VanVleet: Toronto is somewhere I can live for a long time

[OakleyDokely]

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With VV's contract expiring at the end of this season, it's a big year for him. With the loss of Green, he's going to be counted on to play more minutes in the backcourt. He posted solid numbers with heavier minutes as a starter last year . In 28 games as a starter, he averaged 32.4 minutes per game and he posted shooting %'s of 43.4 FG / 38.3 3PT / 90.5 FT.

VV's offense tends to run hot and cold. He struggled with consistency for large stretches during the season. Pre all-star break he posted shooting splits of 40.3 FG / 36.6 3PT. After the break, he ran hot shooting 43.5 FG / 42.2 3PT. The playoffs was the best example of this. Against ORL/PHI he couldn't hit anything, against MIL/GS he was one of the Raptors better players, hitting a bunch of big shots along the way.

Regardless of how he's performing offensively, he's a very capable defender for his size. He's sturdy and he's a very solid man to man defender as Steph Curry learned.

I hope the Raps can work something out with him because he's a solid pro and person. But he's not the type of player you overpay, especially given where the Raps are in their re-tool.

[Kevin Willis]

FVV can be groomed as Lowry's replacement. Comparing their third year against each other, FVV has better numbers. If you compare their season at age 25, Lowry has slightly better numbers. It would depend on how much he progresses going forward. He needs better assist and rebound numbers this year to get there.

[Johnny Bball]

Pre all star break, no Lowry for half, shoulder the load and tough schedule,. Post all-star, Gasol, Lowry and easy schedule. Orlando and Philly, tall and long teams, tougher match-ups. Bucks/Warriors ideal match-ups. I don't think its just as much running hot and cold as people think and there are limitations to Freddie so far.

Want to see him stay. Has no fear.

[revvolutions]

But Fred isn't a floor general, was Lowry though at that point? I remember him losing out to Calderon, but Jose was a facilitator to a weakness.

[EH15]

But Fred isn't a floor general, was Lowry though at that point? I remember him losing out to Calderon, but Jose was a facilitator to a weakness.

I don't think Lowry gets the credit he should get for improving his floor game/passing as a Raptor. Those pocket passes he delivers to bigs (Serge) multiple times a game? Surgical. They're not easy. And he didn't always have that in his game.

[VanWest82]

Give him the max idc...more Fred please

[VanWest82]

Pre all star break, no Lowry for half, shoulder the load and tough schedule,. Post all-star, Gasol, Lowry and easy schedule. Orlando and Philly, tall and long teams, tougher match-ups. Bucks/Warriors ideal match-ups. I don't think its just as much running hot and cold as people think and there are limitations to Freddie so far.

Want to see him stay. Has no fear.

This and also I think he came into camp out of shape last year after getting paid for the first time in his life. He was banged up for most of the season and I don't think that was a coincidence.

Fred is always going to have limitations. He's not Lowry. He doesn't have Lowry's umm...size or his athleticism, but I could see a later career progression in BBIQ and feel for the game similar to what Kyle had. There's still upside there.

Edit: I'd be down for something like 4/60 next summer. The free agent market is going to be thin. Hopefully Fred likes it here as much as he says.

[HeadtopChunes]

I’d love to keep him long term

But if he doesn’t improve his PnR playmaking I don’t see him as a starter

[duppyy]

What he's really saying is "I can't wait till they overpay me"

[Red_Claw]

Theres alot of things to like about VanFleet when he's hot. His confidence is always high but he needs to be consistent.

Hopefully he carries on how he ended last season. I see him as a DJ Augustine right now though. Better defence, worse playmaking.

[howlin mad axer]

Well if we are comparing weather Toronto is probably warmer in the winter than his hometown of Rockford, Illinois.

[720]

If his market value is say at around 8-13 million a year I say bring him back. But if for some reason a team offers him 16+ million we should just let him walk.

With that being said if he shows tremendous growth this year to the point where we could see him being the future starter for this team then maybe Masai might consider keeping him for big money.

[vbmeer]

If his market value is say at around 8-13 million a year I say bring him back. But if for some reason a team offers him 16+ million we should just let him walk.

With that being said if he shows tremendous growth this year to the point where we could see him being the future starter for this team then maybe Masai might consider keeping him for big money.

He's going for Terry Rozier money if not more.

[Raptorstorm]

Keep this dude... seven 3s were amazing

[Raps in 4]

Well if we are comparing weather Toronto is probably warmer in the winter than his hometown of Rockford, Illinois.

Rockford sits right between Chicago and Milwaukee. It's the exact same weather as Toronto.

[howlin mad axer]

Well if we are comparing weather Toronto is probably warmer in the winter than his hometown of Rockford, Illinois.

Rockford sits right between Chicago and Milwaukee. It's the exact same weather as Toronto.

The Windy city is colder than Toronto, the wind chill is harsh.

[Gang of Four]

Rockford is quite far from the lake, maybe too far to feel as much of the lake's moderating effect on temperature as Toronto. So probably somewhat colder in winter but a bit hotter during the summer compared to Toronto.

[Boogie!]

But Fred isn't a floor general, was Lowry though at that point? I remember him losing out to Calderon, but Jose was a facilitator to a weakness.

Kyle Lowry was not an elite floor General, but he had much more going for him in terms of physical skills. Lowry isn't tall but he was always strong and tenacious, a good rebounder for a guard, good defender not only man on man but also picked up steals. He also could beat his man off the dribble with a good first step and was very quick. He also wasn't a great shooter yet. Lowrys main problem was his attitude.

Fvv and Lowry don't really have similar trajectories. Fvv is already a good shooter. But regardless of his ability to run a team, it's more so his physical tools that hold him back. He has no first step quickness nor does he have elite speed and athleticism so even though hes matched up against bigger guys, he can't get by them. This is why he looked horrible against Philly. And this combined with his mediocre play making skills makes him struggle as a full time pg. Hell be good in spurts as a combo guard if the team focuses on using him off ball as a shooter, but lrimarily shooting is why he should be on the floor. His man defense is pretty solid, but his size means guys can shoot over him, he will get out rebounded and he doesn't really have great Instincts in terms of getting in passing lanes, nor does he have long arms which can cause deflections.

Fvv can be a great role player but it will be frustrating to watch if they're goooming him to be the full time pg. His flaws can easily be exposed in certain matchups and he doesn't have the intangibles that Lowry has to make up for it.

[team edward]

3 years, 48 mil.

Pick apart his play and doubt him all you want. He’s a champ.

[Anticon]

I was lukewarm on him but his performance in the finals and conference finals was nutty. Almost incomprehensibly effective.

I vote we keep him. I doubt those will be the last big playoff moments from Fred. Dude's just got it.