[Grange] “Sources have described a team where the veterans — VanVleet and Siakam especially — were deeply frustrated with the younger players on the roster and VanVleet let them know about it, something the younger set didn’t appreciate at all.”
"Sources have described a team where the veterans — VanVleet and Siakam especially — were deeply frustrated with the younger players on the roster and VanVleet let them know about it, something the younger set didn’t appreciate at all."
-via Michael Grange pic.twitter.com/OLpohhAIpq
— . (@GTJGotNext) July 5, 2023
by UjiriWatcher
26 Comments
So many fans tried to say there wasn’t any beef between the young guys and the vets. It was too obvious just by the body language on the court. You dont go from a a good team to a bad team in 1 offseason with the exact same roster without there being any problems in the locker room.
Interesting that the piece sort of frames it as a trade is possible
This isn’t surprising and it probably happens in the nba more than you think.
Instantly reminded of that clip from shootaround where scottie and gary (?) were kinda goofing around and then got into it with Thad when he told them focus up. Was probably stuff like that going on all year behind the scenes
You got a guy chucking up shots, shooting 30% fg consistently without any repercussions from the coach who’s telling you he’s disappointed in you. I would be pissed too
While it’s fair to say Fred, Nurse, Siakam deserve most of the blame for the bad locker room chemistry/vibes this season, it really doesn’t help when:
1.There’s an insane amount of overlap between most of the players, prompting competition.
And 2. Most of the roster were FAs this year or the next offseason.
We have our vets are guys in the middle of their primes playing for their what could be their biggest payday. Then you have young guys on like 2-year contracts just trying to make it to their 2nd NBA contract.
I get Pascal being frustrated cause he put up good numbers and was let down by other people many times. But Fred needed to do some reflecting
The other bit in this piece about Scottie
> consecutive beatdowns at the hands of the New Orleans Pelicans and Brooklyn Nets on the road signalled a malaise that was urgent enough that Ujiri had to address the team personally and second-year star Scottie Barnes specifically.
Ujiri wasn’t happy with Scottie either.
Here is Granges piece from December on it. ( https://www.sportsnet.ca/nba/article/raptors-scottie-barnes-not-ready-to-give-up-on-the-good-times-just-yet/)
> He was benched for the first regular season game of his career nearly two weeks ago against the Cleveland Cavaliers (the Raptors’ best defensive effort of the season) after a long stretch of uninspired play, and responded with the worst game of his career against the New Orleans Pelicans in a Raptors’ blowout loss.
>It was at that point that Barnes was given some hard truths by Raptors president Masai Ujiri, according to multiple sources, during a meeting when the team was in Brooklyn.
This was literally the first week of December only 20 games into the season.
I mean, everyone who watched the games or listened to the comments made by the players/coaches could tell there was trouble in paradise. It was just our media that typically ignored it or they passed it off as not a big deal or that it is common in NBA locker rooms.
The timing of this is very interesting…
everyone will take the young guys side because they like barnes and dislike fred. at some point maybe theres enough smoke to think the older guys may be right
leaks about work ethic, masai making multiple trips to talk to him, disagreement with vets that have great work ethic. signs are there, its not uncommon for high picks
Who are the younger set? Scottie? What other young players do we have?
Malachi???
People going to try to make FVV, Siakam and Thad the bad guys. You know how much work those guys put in. Seems our young guys are kind of soft.
Man, it seemed like the whole locker room situation was far worse than anyone thought. You could tell by the body language and the play on the court that there wasn’t something right.
If FVV is frustrated with young guys then he’s in for 3 years of hell in Houston LOL
Damn Shams is about to give us those after game scoops after losses in Houston.
Then the young players need to look in the fucking mirror. If Pascal is frustrated with these young guys it’s a them problem. He’s a workhorse, if he’s calling you out maybe listen.
Lol Fred’s gonna love Jalen Green and KPJ
Not surprised Fred felt that way, kinda surprised with Siakam tho.
Maybe the young guys were soft though.. Masai made.a trip to see Scottie.. Scottie and Thad arguing.. locker room tensions etc.
Time to prepare the fanbase for a rebuild. A lot of smoke tonight.
To be fair, I’m on FVV’s side. Both Fred and Pascal undrafted and late first to max contract. They fully earned their way. They legit know what it takes.
Meanwhile, no young player has been at all consistent.
Even Scottie could’ve shown a lot more in his second season.
why post a tweet with no actual source….
Dude that went 4/13 every night trying to talk is crazy
Super weird takes that people are blaming Barnes
Yea, he was probably an idiot sometimes, but why is the 2nd year player more responsible for the locker room vibes, but not the veterans who were on the championship teams and actually did have leadership player guidance from guys like Kawhi, Lowry, and Derozan?
Seems like a weird take to make Barnes responsible
Vince Carter in his 2nd year had multiple veterans taking care of him, well known that guys like Christie, Antonio Davis, and Charles Oakley were all veterans there to support the dude
And for some reason there is anyone here that thinks it’s OK for Barnes not to get treated the same way, super weird take imo
Hard to listen to a guy who keeps hogging the ball and throwing up bricks instead of “leading by example “.
These guys are paid in the millions. Get your shit together. You’re playing a sport.
Just because FVV disagrees with someone doesn’t mean he’s right. Remember he was upset with Kawhi sitting out games with load management when everyone in the world knew it was absolutely necessary.