The Houston Rockets are very interested in signing All-Star point guard Fred VanVleet once NBA free agency starts, according to NBA insider Marc Stein.
The Rockets would like to sign VanVleet to a two-year, $85 million contract.
“I wrote extensively Monday night about Houston’s interest in signing Fred VanVleet away from Toronto,” Stein wrote. “This has led to a flurry of informants advising me to give strong credence to projections that the Rockets want to sign VanVleet, who shot just 39.3% from the field this past season and 34.2% on 3-pointers, to a max two-year deal projected at $83.6 million.”
VanVleet declined his 2023-24 player option with the Toronto Raptors, so he becomes an unrestricted free agent on June 30. The Rockets, who have over $60 million in cap space, have become focused on adding VanVleet with 10-time All-Star James Harden increasingly likely to re-sign with the Philadelphia 76ers.
VanVleet averaged 19.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists this past season while shooting 39.3% from the floor, 34.2% from beyond the arc and 89.8% from the free-throw line. The Raptors lost to the Chicago Bulls in the 9-10 play-in game and didn’t qualify for the 2023 postseason.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Fred VanVleet, Toronto Raptors & Houston Rockets Updates
VanVleet, who is an undrafted player out of Wichita State, has career averages of 14.6 points, 3.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists. He is represented by Klutch Sports Group. The one-time champion is expected to command $30-plus million annually on his next deal, according to NBA executives who spoke with Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.
The Rockets won only 22 games this past season. They haven’t made the playoffs since 2020. New head coach Ime Udoka wants to establish a winning culture in Houston and signing VanVleet would help that cause since the guard is a proven winner who can score and facilitate at a high level.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Fred VanVleet, Toronto Raptors & Houston Rockets Updates
Every team needs a stud point guard to compete in today’s NBA and VanVleet has established himself as one of the best players at his position.
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