By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — Fred VanVleet is headed to Houston on a three-year, $130 million contract with the Rockets, ESPN reports.
The 29-year-old Auburn High School graduate, NBA All-Star and NBA champion earned the first max contract of NBA free agency. It is the largest contract ever awarded to an undrafted free agent, according to ESPN.
The deal ends VanVleet’s seven-year run with the Toronto Raptors, where he had played his entire career after graduating Wichita State University in 2016 and famously turning down the opportunity to be a late round NBA draft to bet on himself as a free agent.
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VanVleet entered free agency again this summer after he turned down a $22.8 million player option with the Raptors coming off a season in which he averaged 19.3 points, 7.2 assists and 1.3 steals.
Last year was VanVleet’s third consecutive season averaging at least 19 points, and he finished in the top 15 in the league for total three-pointers made. Two seasons ago, he ranked second to only future Hall-of-Famer Stephen Curry in three-pointers per game. He ranked 11th in that category last season.
He leaves Toronto ranking fourth in total steals (562) and third in total assists (2,199) in Raptors franchise history.
Free agent G Fred VanVleet has agreed on a three-year, $130 million contract with the Houston Rockets, @KlutchSports CEO Rich Paul and agent Erika Ruiz tell ESPN. Rockets land ex-Raptors All-Star in his prime at 29 years old. pic.twitter.com/B6WwPmLYq1
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2023