The Lakers are reportedly interested in experienced guards, with Fred VanVleet surfacing as a potential candidate as all the teams are already on the path of making substantial changes in the early stages of this NBA offseason.
Western Conference clubs have taken note of the recent Bradley Beal trade from the Washington Wizards to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Chris Paul and Landry Shamet. The Los Angeles Lakers are one of them, and after a disappointing postseason run, they are keen to strengthen their roster.
Fred VanVleet, well-known for his outstanding play and championship win with the Toronto Raptors in 2019, has decided to forego his player option, making him an unrestricted free agent. As teams compete for his services, the guard is anticipated to draw bids over $30 million.
Why are the Lakers interested in signing Fred VanVleet?
Since their defeat to the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference finals in a disheartening sweep, the Los Angeles Lakers are quite desperate to improve their backcourt this off-season. They are particularly interested in the brilliant Toronto Raptors point guard Fred VanVleet. If the guard decides to leave Toronto in free agency, the Lakers are one of the top clubs who are reportedly interested in signing him.
Although the Raptors are still in the queue to re-sign the guard, their choice to postpone his contract extension discussions has allowed other clubs to sign him. The Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, and Houston Rockets are also reportedly interested in Fred VanVleet, and sign-and-trade deals are a possibility.
Lakers trade rumors: LeBron James and co. to land STAR PG to compete with Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, Devin Booker and rest of the West https://t.co/qpgu9Cvruz
— FirstSportz NBA (@FS_NBA1) June 19, 2023
Fred VanVleet is slated to become an unrestricted free agent after declining his $22.8 million player option. A deal of roughly $30 million per year is anticipated as a result of his brilliant 2019 campaign and championship victory with the Raptors, which has increased his market value to quite an extent.
A sign-and-trade arrangement involving the Lakers’ combo guard, D’Angelo Russell, would be considered if they actually want to acquire Fred VanVleet. Scotto indicated that for such a situation to occur, Toronto would need to express interest in Russell, who is also a free agent. Both the guards have displayed flashes of their brilliance despite their ups and downs this season. He is a desirable target for the Lakers as they want to bolster their squad because of his championship experience.
Fred VanVleet’s NBA season stats
Fred VanVleet’s ability to contribute to a championship team has been proved by the Toronto Raptors’ 2019 championship victory, despite his previous season’s inconsistent play.
During the 2021–22 NBA season, he became an All-Star player. VanVleet has displayed his flexibility on the floor with a per-game average of 19.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 7.2 assists, 1.8 steals, and 3.0 three-pointers on 39.3% shooting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ad1KzUniaAw
This is why huge organizations like the Los Angeles Lakers are keen to sign him to be a part of their backcourt. Fred VanVleet is definitely an asset as he contributes vital traits to any team that contracts him thanks to his winning track record and broad skill set.
