San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
STAYING AND GOING
NBA
Fred Vanvleet staying with Toronto, while Gordon Hayward heads to Charlotte.
Fred Vanvleet bet on himself. It paid off.
Gordon Hayward, meanwhile, is heading to a new home.
Vanvleet agreed Saturday to a four-year, $85 million contract to remain with the Toronto Raptors, a person with direct knowledge of the discussions said. The fourth year of the contract is at Vanvleet’s option.
The Charlotte Hornets have wanted Hayward for years. On Saturday, they finally landed him, according to Priority Sports, the agency that represents the veteran forward. A person with knowledge of the terms said Hayward will sign a four-year contract worth $120 million.
Vanvleet, the undrafted guard from Wichita State, has played a huge role in the Raptors’ recent successes, most importantly their run to the 2019 NBA championship. He has set career bests in scoring by wide margins in each of the last three seasons, that number rising to 17.6 points per game this past season.
Keeping Vanvleet was of major importance to the Raptors, who have won at least 50 games in each of the last five seasons — by far the longest current streak in the NBA.
It also fulfilled a Vanvleet prophecy: 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.
Free agency opened in the NBA on Friday evening and Vanvleet was one of the top available names. The Lakers’ Anthony Davis remains unsigned though is expected to remain with the defending champions, and Hayward’s future was another of the top questions remaining in the league as Day 2 of free agency began Saturday.
It was not a question for long.
Hayward turned down a $34 million option for this season with Boston, and the Celtics were in talks with other teams — including Indiana, which was believed to be a preference of Hayward’s — on potential sign-and-trade deals.
Instead, it appears the Celtics are seeing Hayward walk away as a free agent.
Notable
Free agent Serge Ibaka plans to sign a two-year, $19 million deal with the Clippers, a source told ESPN’S Adrian Wojnarowski.
• After sending a farewell message on Instagram to the Lakers that ended with “what’s next,” guard Rajon Rondo agreed to a two-year deal with the Hawks, a person with knowledge of the negotiations said.
• Paul Millsap is staying with the Nuggets on a oneyear deal that will be worth around $10 million, according to The Athletic and The Denver Post.
• The Heat agreed to a two-year deal starting at $5.9 million for this season with top defensive guard Avery Bradley, agent Charles Briscoe said. They also agreed with Moe Harkless on a $3.6 million deal.
• Tristan Thompson agreed on a two-year, $19 million contract to join the Celtics.
• Priority Sports announced that Bobby Portis agreed to a deal with the Bucks. Milwaukee and guard
D.J. Augustin reportedly agreed on a three-year contract worth $21 million.
• Michael Carterwilliams is reportedly returning to the Magic on a two-year contract.
• Dwight Howard completed his one-year, $2.6 million deal with the 76ers.
• Forward Jae Crowder agreed on a three-year contract that will be worth nearly $30 million to join the Suns, according to a person familiar with those negotiations.
• Carmelo Anthony is coming back for an 18th season, agreeing on a one-year deal to remain with the Trail Blazers.