NBA Rumors Roundup: Rival teams demanding first round pick in any Westbrook trade, Pistons looking at Mitchell Robinson, and more | May 25th, 2022

Fred VanVleet is not in a hurry to sign a contract extension with the Toronto Raptors

Fred VanVleet will wait how this season's free agency will play itself out before signing a contract extension with the Toronto Raptors. [Photo: New York Post]

The only team that Fred VanVleet has played for in his entire NBA career is the Toronto Raptors. However, with contract extension talks looming, the Raptors’ heart and soul will take their time before committing to anything.

The All-Star point guard’s contract still runs through the 2023-24 NBA season before he becomes an unrestricted free agent. Toronto could open talks this offseason to lock up the 27-year-old for a couple more years after the 2023-24 campaign.

The Athletic’s Eric Koreen believes that the no-nonsense playmaker will keep things in perspective until after this season’s free agency is over with. VanVleet, for his part, is looking forward to meeting the President of Basketball Operations Masai Ujiri and the front office for the start of his extension talks.

VanVleet has been the Toronto Raptors' most reliable player this season and has been Nick Nurse’s go-to guy for most of the NBA season. He could take up the Kyle Lowry role as the rest of the young Raptors develop around him.

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The Sacramento Kings could trade the No. 4 overall draft pick for immediate veteran help

The Sacramento Kings will have De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis as their main core next season. [Photo: NBA.com]

The Sacramento Kings executed a high-profile trade this season when they shipped out emerging point guard Tyrese Haliburton to the Indiana Pacers for former All-Star Domantas Sabonis. Sacramento decided to build around De’Aaron Fox and Sabonis moving forward.

The Kings’ immediate goal for next season is to stop the never-ending circus of rebuilds and finally swing for something big. Mike Scotto of HoopsHype offers an intriguing analysis on why the Kings could trade their enviable draft pick:

“Sacramento already has De’Aaron Fox and Davion Mitchell as part of their core for the future, with Donte DiVincenzo set to enter restricted free agency with a $6.61 million qualifying offer. After acquiring Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento has made it clear the goal is to end the franchise’s playoff drought ... rival teams are keeping an eye on Sacramento to trade this pick.”

The Sacramento Kings have a history of making some mind-numbing mistakes before heading into draft day. They don’t want to commit yet another blunder and force another rebuild further down the road.

The Fox and Sabonis duo showed promise this season, but it remains to be seen how they pan out on a full schedule.