Guard Fred VanVleet is officially back with the Toronto Raptors, as the team relayed in a statement.
VanVleet agreed to a four-year, $85 million contract in free agency to return, per Shams Charania of The Athletic.
“In the last four years, we’ve seen Fred move from leader of Raptors 905, to leader of the Bench Mob to a leader of a championship team. The constant has been his leadership, no matter his role,” Raptors president Masai Ujiri said. “We look forward to the coming years with Fred as one of the voices and hearts of our team. We bet on Fred.”
VanVleet was a vital cog in the Raptors’ championship run of 2019 and was even better last season. He drew interest from multiple teams, but clearly, the Raptors were determined to keep him.
“For me, ‘Bet on Yourself’ isn’t just a motto on a shirt. It really is at the center of who I am and how I decide to live and to work,” VanVleet said. “I’m really happy to be staying in Toronto with my Raptors family, and to be able to continue with this great organization and to work towards our goal of our next championship.”
The Raptors now have VanVleet and forward Pascal Siakim locked up for the next four years.
Toronto will open the 2020-21 season by playing home games in Tampa, Fla.
