[Will Lou] I asked Fred VanVleet at practice today about adapting to a new role this season:
I asked Fred VanVleet at practice today about adapting to a new role this season: pic.twitter.com/ZZSKvsVxnn
— William Lou (@william_lou) December 26, 2022
by gz0023
12 Comments
He seems willing to take on the role but it’s pretty clear he’s not thrilled about it, and part of him still thinks he should be more ball dominant and taking more shots.
And he also obviously has the expectation that management reward him for playing off ball in a contract year.
I don’t know, I just don’t think it’s wise to give him a huge contract.
It’s commendable but his last quote is very telling lol. He’s not taking a pay cut because in his mind, he’s being held back by this new role.
Honestly.. how many point guards in this league would have such a mature response?
Like look at how Trae is acting in Atlanta..
FVV is a great leader and a great example for the young guys on this roster
[@william_lou: I also asked Nick Nurse about his decision to play Scottie Barnes at centre again:](https://twitter.com/william_lou/status/1607509910178103298)
lmao bro who does this guy think he is? what other role would he like i don’t understand. he’s a limited player
I do appreciate Fred’s transparency on his own issues basketball wise
> **Fred VanVleet on adapting to a new role this season:**
> “It was always going to be an adjustment. I talked about it at the beginning of the year. I don’t think anybody really knew what it would look like but for me to come off All-Star year last year and they say ‘get off the ball’ it was an adjustment for me.
> I’m always willing to do what’s best for the team and it’s something that we’ve been trying. There’s games where I do dominate the ball and we need that, but for the most part I’m in a completely different role than last year.
> So it’s been a bit of an adjustment but it’s a long season and I’m confident that at the end of the year my numbers will look how they’re supposed to and we’re accustomed to seeing, especially the three-point percentage.”
> **On how that role was sold to him by coaching and management:**
> “It wasn’t ever really a conversation, to be honest. It was just more like how do we get the best out of this group and out of this team. The natural assumption was that let’s get other guys more shots, and find different ways to anchor the offense, versus just watch Freddy try to bail us out every time.
> So it wasn’t really a direct conversation where somebody said ‘you gotta get off the ball’ but I’ve been around long enough to take a hint.
> And there’s still gonna be times where we need me to be where am best at, which is being aggressive and shooting the ball. But there’s other nights where O.G. is having a great year this year, or when Scottie is aggressive like in the Cleveland game. There’s room for those guys to grow and I just gotta be helpful in that regard and trust that I’ll get rewarded for it at the end of the day putting the team first.”
short version= willing to take a step back but expects a max contact with no pay cuts
Yeah you definitely had to make a major adjustment to…-checks notes-….shoot more 3s? The thing you’re supposed to be elite at? And your 2 pt% is career worst and teetering on league worst for how many minutes you get. Yeah do not pay this man.
All the people bitching and whining about Fred and saying he’s washed should realize now that no one has sacrificed and had to change their game as much as Fred for the better of the team.
I don’t see an adjustment in his play…just the stats. Since when does the FO/Nurse simply ‘hint’ a new role with their primary PG. I don’t buy this and think it is gamesmanship on Fred’s part to excuse his lower numbers and also a big pay day.
Any more than that Brunson contract and it’s too much even with the cap going up. It’s fair for both sides in my opinion anyway.
FO should put it in front of him pre-deadline and let him know that they’ll listen to offers if he declines to pursue FA.
The way the cap rules are set up you can’t lose Fred for nothing. Look at the Mavs muddling along at .500 with a fucking generational superstar in tow.