Fred VanVleet sends message to Raptors management after Warriors loss

The Toronto Raptors have finally gotten Fred VanVleet back on track, as the All-Star point guard has scored an even 100 points in his last three games. Unfortunately, those performances haven’t been in service of victories, as the Raptors are crumbling around him.

The Raptors have lost five straight games and eight of their last 10, with their latest defeat being arguably the worst of the bunch. Toronto surrendered 126 points in a home loss to a Golden State Warriors team who entered the game without Steph Curry or Andrew Wiggins.

While the Raptors have been playing some pitiful basketball lately, some may find it hard to complain too much about this stretch due to the fact O.G. Anunoby and Precious Achiuwa have missed time with injuries. Playing with such a thin roster is clearly taking a toll on VanVleet.

VanVleet called out Raptors management after the Warriors loss, saying that this team isn’t “really built to have a ton of injuries.” The lack of depth in key areas has been a common talking point among Raptors fans for the last few years, and it seems like VanVleet is starting to get frustrated with how much he is asked to do.

Fred VanVleet took a shot at the Toronto Raptors’ roster.

While Juancho Hernangomez has had some decent performances, the fact he’s starting and routinely played heavy minutes in the last few games is a sign that Nick Nurse is trying anything and everything to piecemeal a rotation together. Christian Koloko has oodles of talent, but he shouldn’t be starting. 

The Raptors may have leaned just a bit too hard into the whole “Vision 6-9” philosophy, as they have an abundance of players that can not create their own shot or consistently stroke it from 3-point range. Much like last year, VanVleet is being forced to pick up the slack.

If the Raptors want to eschew blowing up the roster and continue competing for a playoff spot, Masai Ujiri needs to start working the phones. Be it acquiring a shooter that can breathe new life into this offense or a rim protector that can start over Koloko, something needs to get done.

Ujiri is one of the best executives in the league, and the Masai/Bobby Webster tandem is likely already figuring out how to give this roster a fresh new look. With VanVleet taking some not-so-veiled shots at the way this roster is constructed, Ujiri might be extra motivated to get a deal done.