Four years ago, when no NBA team wanted to draft Fred VanVleet, it looked unlikely that he would ever become a key piece on a Toronto Raptors championship team. For many, the point guard, who stands at six feet tall, was too small to ever be a great NBA player. But VanVleet didn’t give up, and instead, he “bet on himself,” as his marketing slogan says. And, it’s fair to say that the bet paid off (for more NBA bets, go to us-bookies.com.)
When the Raptors won the championship in 2019, VanVleet drilled clutch three after clutch three culminating in him shooting a ridiculous 45 per cent from beyond the arc in the deciding game six against the Golden State Warriors. And, if the Raptors want that championship success to continue, they need to resign Fred VanVleet, who became a free agent at the end of last season.
The Toronto Raptors Need to Re-Sign Fred VanVleet
VanVleet Steps Up in the Playoffs
Some players are scared of big moments.
Fred VanVleet has proven with his play for the Toronto Raptors that he isn’t one of them. The point guard was incredible in the 2019 NBA finals, which saw him even get one Finals MVP vote. But, that performance isn’t the only time he has made his mark on the most significant occasions. When superstar Kawhi Leonard left the Raptors, many expected Toronto to struggle, especially in the playoffs.
VanVleet was the opposite. Despite losing a close game seven to the Boston Celtics, the point guard did all he could to keep the Raptors in that game. VanVleet scored 20 points, had six assists, three rebounds and two blocks. He was the only Raptor in that game to score 20. And overall, in that series against the Celtics, the point guard averaged 18.7 points, 6.4 assists and 4.6 rebounds. VanVleet’s performances have been so good that they haven’t escaped notice from some of the NBA’s best players.
“He’s stamped to me as a dog in the league. He gonna be in the league for a long long time, however long he wants to play,” said former NBA Most Valuable Player Kevin Durant. “As an undrafted player, a lot of young guys should be looking at Fred VanVleet.”
And it’s praise like that which justifies the need for Toronto to break the bank to keep VanVleet so that he’ll keep them as one of the NBA’s best teams.
Kyle Lowry Replacement
Kyle Lowry is one of the most loved Toronto Raptors of all time. His bulldog approach to the game, as well as his tremendous ass power, has sealed his place as the franchises’ greatest point guard. But, unfortunately for Raptors fans, Lowry isn’t getting younger. Despite an incredible playoff performance against Boston, which included a 33 point game six, the point guard is 34. The harsh reality is that Father Time has yet to lose a battle.
However, in Fred VanVleet, Toronto has an ideal man to carry the torch forward. VanVleet plays like Lowry and displays many similar leadership qualities. The Toronto Raptors would be hard-pressed to find a better replacement that just gets the team like VanVleet. So, they may need to break the bank now to secure VanVleet, but the point guard’s playoff steel and leadership quality mean it won’t be wasted.
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