VanFleet agrees to deal to stay with Raptors; Hayward joins Hornets

Fred VanVleet agreed Saturday to a four-year, $85 million contract to remain with the Toronto Raptors, a person with direct knowledge of the discussions told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the contract was unsigned.

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.

HORNETS: Charlotte has wanted Gordon Hayward for years. On Saturday, the Hornets finally landed him, according to Priority Sports, the agency that represents the veteran forward. A person with knowledge of the terms, speaking on condition of anonymity because the deal hadn’t been signed, told the AP that Hayward will sign a four-year contract worth $120 million. Hayward turned down a $34 million option for this season with Boston.

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 . ... Moe Harkless agreed to a $3.6 million contract, a person with knowledge told AP. For now, the Heat intend to use their biannual exception to land Harkless, who averaged 5.6 points in 62 games last season with the Los Angeles Clippers and New York.

BUCKS: Priority Sports announced that Bobby Portis, who averaged 10.1 points last season for New York, agreed to a deal with Milwaukee.

SIXERS: Dwight Howard became the first announced free-agent signing of this offseason, completing his one-year, $2.6 million deal. He signed Saturday.

SUNS: Forward Jae Crowder, a big part of Miami’s run last season to the NBA Finals, agreed on a three-year contract that will be worth nearly $30 million to join Phoenix, according to a person familiar with those negotiations. Crowder became a starter last season for the Heat and averaged 12.0 points in Miami’s playoff run.