A Month After Losing Fred Van Vleet to a $130,000,000 Deal, Raptors Plan to Extend Defensive Phenom

The NBA offseason has been a major bag alert. Jaylen Brown became the first player to sign a $300 million deal. Recently, Anthony Davis signed a three-year $186 million extension. Such deals that hover over $60 million a year are going to become common for top-level players. Meanwhile, specialist players are also getting their dues. Defensive specialist Dillon Brooks got a four-year $80 million deal. 

One other enormous deal was Fred Van Vleet’s three-year $130 million deal. Now one of his former teammates can nab a big amount like that, too.

Toronto Raptors can make a major decision soon

Van Vleet got the deal despite having a relatively struggling year for the Raptors. The team didn’t see it fit to offer him a deal like the Rockets. Van Vleet’s contract allows him to earn more than $40 million a year. He is not an All-Star level player but can be defined as a borderline All-Star, hence the steep valuation. 

Currently, Pascal Siakam is the highest-paid player for the team, having a contract between $35-$40 million. It means that they still have some money to spend and if the cap develops a wider base next season, then they can lure someone with a huge $40 million type of contract. In this wake, OG Anunoby’s position is vital.

He made the All-Defensive Second Team in 2023, and without him, the Raptors look worse on both ends. The Guard has scored in the 15-20 points range mostly, but alongside his defense, that production looks ample.

He signed a four-year $72 million deal in 2021 and he will have a player option for the 2024-25 season. He will want to decline his $19.9 million option for the 2024-25 season and can hit free agency.

As per NBA Insider and The Athletic journalist Shams Charania, he is expecting an offer of over $30 million.

The Raptors may be planning to extend him in October, but it will be limited at $117 for four years, a bit less than the $30 million a year for four years.

Will the Raptors go all in on Anunoby? Will he accept the contract or look for a heftier one?

The Raptors’ not-so-extravagant offseason

After losing Van Vleet, the team hauled in Dennis Schröder, a serviceable starting guard. They gave Center Jakob Poeltl a four-year $80 million deal. It means they place strong trust in the big man for whom they gave up multiple draft picks to the Spurs. Apart from that, the team didn’t make any major moves. 

READ MORE: Despite Winning the NBA Championship With the Raptors, Fred VanVleet Claims Another Feat as His “Ultimate Pride”

Their current lineup of Schröder, Gary Trent, Anunoby, Barnes, Siakam, Achiuwa, Boucher, and Poeltl has defensive promise, but last season’s offensive struggles can resurface.

This doesn’t look like a roster that can make a deep Playoff run.

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Are the Raptors planning for a big splash next season? Is a Siakam trade on the horizon? Will they rebuild? Do share in the comments below.