5. Fred VanVleet
Even after the 2023 NBA Draft, you’d be lying if you have any idea what the Toronto Raptors are going to do when free agency opens. However, it does feel like the team is going to run it back to a certain extent next season. They didn’t trade Pascal Siakam or OG Anunoby leading up to the draft. That’s important. Now they must decide on how to approach the free agency decisions on Fred VanVleet and Gary Trent Jr.
If I had to guess, I’d say that the Raptors are going to prioritize one of them. I don’t believe they’re going to pay both Trent and VanVleet big money this offseason. Those are the types of contracts that both of those players are going to demand. One will get that contract offer from the Raptors and the other will see out greener pastures.
I predict that VanVleet will be the player that sticks around in Toronto. The one player that I still believe the Raptors could end up trading is Anunoby. However, the price is likely high for such a move. I think the Raptors give this core one more shot. And, hey, maybe a healthy Raptors team can make a similar run as the Miami Heat did this past season.
Prediction: Toronto Raptors