Raptors all-star guard VanVleet declines option, expected to test free agency: report

Toronto Raptors all-star Fred VanVleet is declining his $22.8 million US player option for 2023-24 to enter free agency, ESPN reported Monday.

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the 29-year-old guard has not ruled out negotiating a new deal with Toronto, where he averaged 19.3 points, 7.2 assists and 4.1 rebounds in 69 games (all starts) in 2022-23. He was third in the NBA with 1.8 steals per game.

ESPN Sources: In the first major domino of free agency, Toronto Raptors All-Star guard Fred VanVleet has declined his $22.8 million player option and will become an unrestricted free agent in July. <a href="https://t.co/bVrve81XgZ">pic.twitter.com/bVrve81XgZ</a>

VanVleet has spent his entire career with the Raptors, making the all-star team in 2021-22 and helping them win an NBA championship in 2018-19.

He owns career averages of 14.6 points, 5.3 assists and 3.3 rebounds in 417 games (268 starts) since arriving as an undrafted free agent in July 2016.

VanVleet signed a four-year, $85 million deal with the Raptors in November 2020. If he declines his player option, he would become an unrestricted free agent on July 6.