Should Fred VanVleet be considered a priority during this free agency?

Thursday, September 24, 2020

Toronto Raptors’ point guard Fred VanVleet will be a free agent once this season is officially over and the New York Knicks have already expressed interest in him.  But do I think he should a priority during this free agency?  My answer is YES and I’ll explain why below.

After going unselected in the 2016 NBA Draft, Fred VanVleet signed a multi-year deal with the Toronto Raptors on July 18, 2016.  He was offered two deals prior to this signing, but he declined both of them.

Fred VanVleet played with the Raptors for his entire four-season career so far.  He is currently averaging 10.5 points per game with them, as well as 2.6 rebounds a game, 4.1 assists a game, 1.0 steals a game, and 0.3 blocks a game.  He is shooting 41% from the field while knocking down 39% of his three-pointers.

During the 2016-2017 season (his rookie season), VanVleet averaged 2.9 points a game (406th in the league).  He also averaged 1.1 rebounds a game (430th in the league), 0.9 assists a game (307th in the league), 0.4 steals a game (318th in the league), and 0.1 blocks a game (405th in the league).  He did that while shooting 35% from the field (443rd in the league) and 37% from downtown (99th in the league).

The following season, he averaged 8.6 points per game (203rd in the league), as well as 2.4 rebounds per game, 3.2 assists per game (90th in the league), 0.9 steals per game (127th in the league), and 0.3 blocks per game (274th in the league).  He shot 42% from the field (324th in the league) while shooting 41% from beyond the arc (59th in the league).

In the 2018-2019 season, Fred VanVleet averaged 11.0 points a game (147th in the league).  He also averaged 2.6 rebounds a game (315th in the league), 4.8 assists a game (44th in the league), 0.9 steals a game (114th in the league), and 0.3 blocks a game (251st in the league).  He did that while 41% from the field (372nd in the league) and 37% from behind the three-point line (100th in the league).

Last season, VanVleet recorded 17.6 points per game (62nd in the league), along with 3.8 rebounds per game (213th in the league), 6.6 assists per game (20th in the league), 1.9 steals per game (4th in the league), and 0.3 blocks per game (223rd in the league).  He shot 41% from the field (365th in the league) while shooting 39% from downtown (88th in the league).

So far, Fred VanVleet has made the playoffs every year he has been in the league.  As of right now, he is averaging 9.6 points a game in the playoffs.  He is also averaging 2.1 rebounds per game, 3.2 assists per game, 0.8 steals per game, and 0.3 blocks per game.  He is shooting 39% from the field and 37% from behind the three-point line.

His first postseason appearance was during the 2017 Playoffs as the Raptors got swept in the second round by the LeBron James-led Cleveland Cavaliers, 0-4.  During those playoffs, VanVleet averaged 2.0 points per game, 0.1 rebounds per game, 0.6 assists per game, and 0.1 steals per game.  He shot 66% from the field while shooting 40% from downtown.

Fred VanVleet’s next playoff appearance was during the 2018 Playoffs when the Raptors once again got swept by the James-led Cavaliers in the second round, 0-4.  Throughout those playoffs, he averaged 6.8 points per game, along with 1.7 rebounds a game, and 2.2 assists a game.  He did that while shooting 33% from the field and 28% from behind the arc.

VanVleet and the Raptors made another postseason appearance during the 2019 Playoffs but this time, they defeated the Stephen Curry-led Golden State Warriors in the Finals, 4-2, clinching their first championship in franchise history.  During those playoffs, Fred VanVleet recorded 8.0 points per game.  He also put in 1.8 rebounds a game, 2.6 assists a game, 0.8 steals a game, and 0.3 blocks a game.  He shot 39% from the field while knocking down 38% of his three-pointers.

This season, the Raptors made the postseason but fell to the Jayson Tatum-led Boston Celtics in the second round, 4-3.  Throughout those playoffs, Fred VanVleet averaged 19.6 points a game, as well as 4.4 rebounds a game, 6.9 assists a game, 1.6 steals a game, and 0.6 blocks a game.  He shot 40% from the field while hitting 39% of his three-pointers.

VanVleet is only 26 years old and already has postseason experience.  Being that young with experience and a lot of potential left, I think teams should consider pursuing Fred VanVleet.

Vince Carter is the greatest Toronto Raptors player of all-time

Sunday, July 9, 2020

 

The Toronto Raptors were founded in 1995 and they have just recently reached their goal:  They were the NBA champions last year.  It marked their first championship even though they made a total of 12 playoff appearances.  They have had a lot of talented players on their rosters but the greatest Raptors player of all-time, in my opinion, is Vince Carter.

If “age ain’t nothing but a number” was a person, it would be Vince Carter.  Okay, that was a corny joke…sorry.  But, nevertheless, Carter is the only player to play 22 seasons and in four different decades.  That’s pretty amazing.  He was well-known for his spectacular dunks, giving him nicknames such as “Half Man, Half Amazing” but he can still score from different areas of the court, as well.  He was definitely a marquee athlete.

Carter played with the Raptors for the first seven seasons of his career.  During his time there, he was a five-time All-Star who was named to the All-NBA Second Team and Third Team once each.  He averaged 23.4 points per game, along with 5.2. rebounds a game, 3.9 assists a game, 1.3 steals a game, and 1.0 blocks a game.  He could also shoot the ball well.  He shot 45% from the field while knocking down 38% of his three-pointers.  He finished with a true shooting percentage of 53%.

As of right now, Vince Carter is the Toronto Raptors’ fourth all-time leader in points with 9,420.  He is also their eighth all-time leader in rebounds with 2,091, their sixth all-time leader in assists with 1,553, their fifth all-time leader in steals with 534, their fourth all-time leader in blocks with 415, and their fifth all-time leader in three-pointers made with 554.

Carter helped the Raptors make the two seasons in a row but unfortunately, could never win a championship.  He did, however, average 25.7 points per game in the playoffs.  He also averaged 6.4 rebounds a game, 5.0 assists a game, 1.5 steals a game, and 1.6 blocks a game.  He shot 42% from the field while drilling 37% of his three-pointers.  He finished with a combined true shooting percentage of 51%.

Currently, Vince Carter is the Toronto Raptors’ seventh all-time leader in points scored during the playoffs with 385.  He is also their 15th all-time leader in rebounds with 96, their eighth all-time leader in assists with 75, their eighth all-time leader in steals with 23, their sixth all-time leader in blocks with 24, and their 12th all-time leader in three-pointers made with 26.

Although the Raptors just won their first championship last season, they still have had a lot of great, talented players on their rosters.  They’ve had guys like Chris Bosh, Alvin Williams, and even Carter’s cousin, Tracy McGrady.  Recently, the Raptors featured stars Kawhi Leonard and DeMar DeRozan who are no longer with the franchise.  But they still have Kyle Lowry, Fred VanVleet, and Pascal Siakam, who are spectacular.  But, in my opinion, the greatest Raptors player of all-time is Vince Carter.