Raptors re- up VanVleet for 4 years, $ 85 million
Fred VanVleet bet on himself. It paid off. VanVleet reportedly agreed Saturday to a four- year, $ 85 million contract to remain with the Raptors. The deal is the largest ever in total value for an undrafted NBA player. The fourth year is at VanVleet’s option.
The lucrative contract fulfilled a prophecy made by VanVleet, a guard from Wichita State and Peoria, when he famously went undrafted four years ago, then passed on some low- money deals that he figured wouldn’t pan into much.
“I turned those down. I bet on myself,” VanVleet told friends and family on what would have been his draft night, a festive occasion that turned disappointing when the call from the NBA never came. On Saturday, he tweeted his reaction: a retweet of himself saying “Bet on yourself ” in 2016, with three moneybag emojis now attached.
† The Hornets have wanted Gordon Hayward for years. According to Priority Sports, the agency that represents the veteran forward, they finally landed him. Hayward reportedly will sign a four- year contract worth $ 120 million.
† Former Bull Bobby Portis, who averaged 10.1 points last season for the Knicks, agreed to a deal with the Bucks, Priority Sports announced. The Bucks also reportedly agreed to a three- year, $ 21 million contract with guard D. J. Augustin.
† Well- traveled Trevor Ariza is on the move for the third time this week, going to the Thunder from the Pistons along with the Mavericks’ Justin Jackson in a three- team trade. The Mavericks also reportedly sent Delon Wright to the Pistons for James Johnson.
† Carmelo Anthony will come back for his 18th season, reportedly agreeing on a oneyear deal to remain with the Trail Blazers.
TENNIS
Thiem, Medvedev shake up ATP Finals
Instead of No. 1 Novak Djokovic vs. No. 2 Rafael Nadal for the ATP Finals trophy, it’ll be No. 3 Dominic Thiem against No. 4 Daniil Medvedev in London.
Nadal served for the victory in the semifinals when leading 5- 4 in the second set. But Medvedev broke at love there and came all the way back to win 3- 6, 7- 6 ( 4), 6- 3, claiming the last four games.
“It’s great that we managed to beat two of the biggest players in the history of the sport,” Medvedev said. “It’s super for tennis.”
Thiem frittered away four match points in his semifinal against Djokovic because he was “tight and nervous” during a second- set tiebreaker. But Thiem gathered himself and eventually reeled off seven of the match’s last eight points after trailing 4- 0 in the last tiebreaker, winning 7- 5, 6- 7 ( 10), 7- 6 ( 5).
Streb goes up by three after three
Robert Streb fired a 3- under 67 to build a three- shot lead over Zach Johnson ( 65) and Bronson Burgoon ( 67) going into the final round of the RSM Classic on St. Simons Island, Georgia. Streb was at 17- under 195.
Camilo Villegas pulled within one shot of the lead going to the back nine of the Seaside course until a two- shot swing at the 10th that cost him momentum. Streb hit his approach to eight feet for birdie. Villegas was just on the fringe 15 feet away, ran it by five feet and missed that to fall three shots back.
† Sei Young Kim answered Ally McDonald’s ace with a late birdie run to open a fivestroke lead in the LPGA Pelican Women’s Championship in Belleair, Florida.
† Racing for the first time since January, Mikaela Shiffrin settled for second place behind Petra Vlhova in a World Cup slalom in Levi, Finland.