The Philadelphia 76ers are not expected to pursue All-Star point guard Fred VanVleet this offseason, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports.
VanVleet declined his 2023-24 player option with the Toronto Raptors, so he’s an unrestricted free agent. The Sixers hired VanVleet’s former coach, Nick Nurse, after firing Doc Rivers.
However, it doesn’t look like VanVleet and Nurse will be reuniting in Philadelphia.
“But Philadelphia, sources said, is not expected to target Fred VanVleet in the event James Harden departs via free agency, despite the obvious connection to new Sixers head coach Nick Nurse, who won a championship with VanVleet in Toronto in 2019,” Fischer wrote. “One smaller trade element to monitor for Philadelphia: The Sixers are actively seeking opportunities to acquire a second-round pick in next Thursday’s draft, league sources told Yahoo Sports.”
VanVleet signed a four-year, $85 million contract with the Raptors in November 2020. He averaged 19.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists in 2022-23 while shooting 39.3% from the floor, 34.2% from beyond the arc and 89.8% from the free-throw line.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Fred VanVleet, Philadelphia 76ers & Toronto Raptors Updates
The Raptors lost to the Chicago Bulls in the 9-10 play-in game and didn’t qualify for the 2023 postseason.
Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN is reporting that VanVleet hasn’t ruled out negotiating a new deal with the Raptors. Meanwhile, the Sixers are focused on re-signing former MVP James Harden, who is expected to become an unrestricted free agent.
“VanVleet hasn’t ruled out negotiating a new deal and a Raptors return, sources said, but he becomes one of the most prominent guards in the marketplace and an immediate target of teams with cap space and several contenders who’d welcome discussions on sign-and-trade scenarios with Toronto, sources said,” Woj wrote.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Fred VanVleet, Philadelphia 76ers & Toronto Raptors Updates
The Sixers lost to the Boston Celtics in the 2023 Eastern Conference Semifinals in seven games. The franchise hasn’t reached the conference finals since 2001.
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