A few weeks ago, Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report reported that Fred VanVleet had parted ways with his agents.
It didn't take long for the Raptors guard to be linked to new representation as NBA insider Marc Stein said, "the strong expectation in league circles" is that VanVleet planned to sign with Klutch Sports, the agency run by Rich Paul that represents Lakers superstar LeBron James.
"My pal and podcast partner Mr. Haynes reported earlier this week via Bleacher Report that VanVleet was in the process of hiring new agents in advance of free agency, with the seventh-year guard poised to become an unrestricted free agent unless he and the Raptors hash out a contract extension," Stein wrote on Jan. 27.
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Stein's report was spot on, as Klutch Sports officially announced the signing of VanVleet on Friday, Feb. 17.
Welcome @FredVanVleet! pic.twitter.com/MxFr5mU5Zu
— Klutch Sports Group (@KlutchSports) February 18, 2023
VanVleet has a $22.8 million player option in his contract for the 2023-24 season, giving him the choice of being an unrestricted free agent in the offseason. Stein has written before that, if the Raptors kept VanVleet beyond this season's trade deadline — and they did — it would suggest they expect to re-sign him.
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It was recently reported that VanVleet turned down a four-year, $114 million extension with the Raptors in the offseason, though VanVleet said he was never made a formal offer.
VanVleet is averaging 19.1 points, 6.3 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.6 steals through 40 games this season.
Klutch Sports clients: Which players does agency represent?
Klutch Sports represents quite a few NBA players.
According to RealGM, the list is headlined by James and Anthony Davis. It also includes Darius Garland, Anthony Edwards, Ben Simmons, De'Aaron Fox, Zach LaVine and Draymond Green, to name a few.
As noted by Stein, Klutch Sports represents two of VanVleet's current teammates in O.G. Anunoby and Gary Trent Jr., as well as Raptors head coach Nick Nurse.
