The Raptors have extended qualifying offers to Fred VanVleet, Malcolm Miller, and Nando De Colo, ensuring that all three players will become restricted free agents, the team announced today (via Twitter).
VanVleet, the most notable of the three players, had a breakout season for the Raptors in 2017/18. The leader of the team’s second unit, VanVleet averaged 8.6 PPG and 3.2 APG with a .414 3PT% and was a finalist for the league’s Sixth Man of the Year award. His qualifying offer is worth just under $1.7MM.
As Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca detailed earlier today, the Raptors are wary of a rival suitor back-loading an offer sheet to VanVleet via the Arenas provision. However, if the 24-year-old doesn’t receive any over-the-top offers from other teams, there’s a good chance he’ll remain in Toronto on a new multiyear deal.
Miller was on a two-way contract with the Raptors in 2017/18, so his QO will be a one-year, two-way contract offer with a $50K guarantee.
As for De Colo, he hasn’t played in the NBA since the 2013/14 season, but the Raptors have retained the right of first refusal on the 31-year-old since then by issuing qualifying offers each year. De Colo seems unlikely to return to the NBA at this point, given his success overseas — the CSKA Moscow guard has earned First Team All-EuroLeague honors for three straight seasons. As such, the Raps’ QO looks like a mere formality.
The only Raptors player eligible for restricted free agency who didn’t receive a qualifying offer today is Lucas Nogueira. The team has a couple more days to issue a QO if it changes its mind, but it appears Nogueira will become an unrestricted free agent when the new league year begins.
To cherrypick, Nogueira shot 72% and had 5.1 blocks, 2.7 steals, & 2.6/1.9 a/t per 100 poss.
Hoopshype said he “occasionally changes games” but rated him 18th among FA centers. So my point is, ????.
I’d say the biggest knocks on Lucas are his inconsistency and mental game (he gets down on himself and then his game quickly follows suit.) Some team should definitely pick him up though (his upside is great), it just doesn’t make sense for the Raptors to extend him his qualifying offer (about $4m) considering their depth at that position.
nando de colo is still playing.
Why all the fuss with FVV, don’t see what’s so special about him, you cannot pay more than 4-5MM/year for a guy who does 8PPG & 3 APG, is just an average bench player. Overrated.