NBA Rumors: Champion Guard Linked To Sign With The Miami Heat In Free Agency

Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet could be headed to South Beach in the upcoming off-season. The 6’1 scorer will hit free agency after the season with rumors suggesting the Miami Heat are emerging as his most viable destination in the market.

VanVleet has previously said that he wants to stay in Toronto. But while he declares that re-signing with the team that gave him his first NBA title is the most ideal scenario, the former Wichita State guard did not completely dismiss the chance to explore other options as he cited that several factors need to be considered before making his decision.

Miami, which has both enough cash reserves to afford his demands and the cast poised to contend, could be the most promising choice to make, according to Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report.

“In an ideal world, Fred VanVleet says he'd re-sign with the Toronto Raptors. In terms of business, his best option might be taking the money and running to the rebuilder, like the New York Knicks or Detroit Pistons,” Buckley wrote.

“But the 6'1" point guard could have his cake and eat it too by following the snowbirds' flight path from Canada to South Florida. Get him to Miami, and he might find a mammoth-sized salary (albeit on a short-term deal so the Heat can still go whale hunting in 2021) without sacrificing the ability to contend for a title.

“Miami might be the only win-now team with real money to spend this offseason, and the point guard spot could be the best place to invest those funds. Goran Dragic is 34 years old and entering unrestricted free agency. Kendrick Nunn is a rookie, but he's only a year younger than VanVleet and nowhere near as impactful as a defender or distributor.

“If the Heat want a substantial one-year lift, VanVleet could be the preferred choice to provide it.”

A former undrafted guard turned NBA Champion, VanVleet has shown vast improvement in his game that became apparent during their title run against the Golden State Warriors in 2019. From being a rarely-used piece off the bench, the 26-year-old worked his way up as he now plays starter under Nick Nurse’s stacked roster.

Ironically, VanVleet notched his career-high in points when he led the Raptors to a 107-103 grind out win over the Heat on Monday inside the Orlando bubble. He racked up 36 markers and even made the defensive stop that secured the win during the waning seconds of the match.