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The Raptors and Rockets were the only legitimate suitors for the 29-year-old former NBA all-star, who had opted out of a contract that would have paid him $22.8 million to remain with the Raptors through the 2023-24 season.

ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ had hoped an offer starting around $30 million a season would be enough to keep him in the fold. The Rockets, armed with more than $65 million in salary-cap space and a young roster crying out for veteran leadership, were able to throw a lucrative financial offer at VanVleet.

The Raptors have always been good at reading the market for free agents and staying steadfast with what they would, or could, pay. A pre-emptive strike at more than $40 million a year was untenable to them.

It didn’t take the Raptors long to pivot from VanVleet as they plan to sign Dennis Schröder to a two-year deal worth $26 million, according to NBA sources. Schroder was seen as one of the top free agents on the market after VanVleet decided to leave. The 29-year-old averaged 12.6 points and 4.5 assists per game with the Lakers last season, appearing in 66 games and starting 50.

The German-born six-foot-three guard has been in the NBA for 10 seasons after being taken 17th in the 2013 draft by the Atlanta Hawks. The Raptors have had passive interest in him in the past, most notably when they were shopping for deals around Kyle Lowry two seasons ago, according to NBA sources.

Schroder has been primarily a backup in his career, starting only 317 of his 687 NBA games. He’s a career 33.7 per cent shooter from three-point range.

VanVleet’s path has been unorthodox, to say the least, and one of the most unique in NBA history.

Undrafted after four years at Wichita State, the native of Rockford, Ill., was signed as a free agent by the Raptors after playing for their 2016 Summer League team in Las Vegas.

He was seen as an intriguing prospect — then-coach Dwane Casey likened him to Kyle Lowry in VanVleet’s rookie season — but few could have seen his career taking off like it did.

He has been an NBA all-star, was a key component of ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½â€™s 2019 championship run (famed broadcaster Hubie Brown gave him an MVP vote after the Raptors beat Golden State) and has become one of the most accomplished players in franchise history.

He is second in Raptors history in three-point field goals made and attempted, behind Lowry, third in assists behind Lowry and José Calderón, and fourth in steals behind Lowry, Doug Christie and DeMar DeRozan.

VanVleet is also 10th in games played as a Raptor (417, tied with Alvin Williams) and in the top 10 in minutes and field goals made and attempted.

He also holds the franchise single-game records for points (54) and assists (20). (The only other player in NBA history to have both marks for the same team is Wilt Chamberlain with Philadelphia.)

“I’ll be able to appreciate this stuff at a later time,� VanVleet said last April after establishing the assist mark. “The further I get away from 54, the more I appreciate it. Maybe it will be the same thing with this. (I’m) just really thankful for my teammates, just the way they were screening and finishing in the paint.�

But more than his statistical impact, VanVleet’s mark on the franchise goes deeper. His self-professed Bet On Yourself philosophy set a standard up and down the roster that said hard work and perseverance was the only ticket to greatness.

It’s a trait team officials saw right from the start.

“I’ve always said this: He’s just got a specialness about him,� former Raptors coach Nick Nurse said. “It’s a special compete level. It’s a special feel for the game. It’s a special toughness.

“It’s some stuff like that that stands out. The first drill goes up (in 2016 training camp) and he goes right underneath Kyle (Lowry) 84 feet (from the hoop). Like, ‘I’ve got to make this team, man.’ So he starts proving it.�