Josh Lewenberg: Raptors GM Bobby Webster (from his @TSN1050Radio interview this morning) on RFA Fred VanVleet: “He’s a huge priority. I don’t want to get fined here, we’re a little limited in what we can say, but we love Freddy and he knows that. He is our highest priority.”
Fred VanVleet Rumors
All NBA PlayersWhat convinced you to declare for the draft? Landry Shamet: There was a lot of variables. For one, just the confidence I have in myself to make something happen for myself. I’ve always trusted my gut. My gut has been telling me I should probably go do this for me and my family. I’ve had Ron Baker and Fred VanVleet in my corner. Fred told me something: basically, if you realize you’re a pro and you understand what you’re capable of, when you come to terms with the fact that the process might not go exactly how you want it to but you’re gonna make something happen for yourself, it’s an easy decision. There’s a couple alternatives and worst case scenarios with this process but I feel like I’m comfortable with them. Obviously, it’s a dream you have for a long time and being that it was a small window of opportunity, I kinda just wanted to grab it and attack it with two hands.
When you talk about your free agency, knowing you’re restricted, is it still your top preference to come back? […] Fred VanVleet: “Nothing’s changed for me. [Dwane Casey] was a big part of that, just my familiarity and comfort level and obviously, I was playing a lot of minutes, and, you know, a coach could come in and it may not work out that way. But I can’t worry about that. I’m going to be loyal to the organization that gave me a chance and I love the city of Toronto, I love the fans, I love the people here, and I would love to be back. So hopefully it can work out. Obviously, you’d like to be wanted. You want all parties to find a way to make it work. And that’s what we’re gonna shoot for. We’ll see what happens in the next few weeks.”
Josh Lewenberg: Fred VanVleet is one of three finalists for the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award (Lou Williams and Eric Gordon the others). Well deserved. If his value wasn’t already apparent, you saw it when he got hurt in the playoffs.
15 May
Seerat Sohi: Fred VanVleet, with an honest assessment of the bench mob and the team: “We pretty much shredded every bench in the NBA in the regular season and we just didn’t get it done in the playoffs. Kinda true to our team in terms of under-performing when it mattered the most.”
