Toronto Raptors point guard Fred VanVleet will become an unrestricted free agent after the season, and the Knicks “should emerge” as one of his suitors, reports The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
According to Charania, the Detroit Pistons and Phoenix Suns should also go after VanVleet, with the Raptors interested in holding him back.
VanVleet, 26, had a career year for the Raptors during the regular season, averaging 17.6 points, 6.6 assists and 3.8 rebounds while shooting just over 41% from the field.
The Knicks, who mostly handed out one-year warranties when signing lower-tier free agents last summer after losing Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, and others, will have plenty of flexibility on the salary cap when the off-season kicks off.
Frank Ntilikina, Dennis Smith Jr. and Elfrid Payton are among the Knicks’ current inside options at point guard.
With the choice n. 8 in the 2020 NBA Draft, the Knicks could potentially select a point guard, with Killian Hayes and Cole Anthony (who dropped below the top half of the first round on many fictional draft boards) potential options at No. 8.
If the Knicks swapped the draft – and they may have the resources to do so – they could do so with an eye on fellow point guard LaMelo Ball.