Which Raptors are “not being happy” after CJ McCollum drops rumor bomb?

Masai Ujiri and Nick Nurse seem to be preparing for a sell-off at some point, as the Toronto Raptors are clearly not in a position to turn into title contenders in the immediate future.

While the Raptors have generally avoided much of the in-house bickering and sniping that has torn apart dozens of teams over the years, there are some rumblings that not everyone on the roster is holding hands and singing Kumbaya. A current NBA star confirmed as much.

Speaking on his titular show, New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum said that “certain players” on the Raptors are not happy with what’s going on right now, which is as far as he can go without getting the tampering police involved. With how little gets out of Toronto and the fact that McCollum has nothing to gain by making this up, there is likely some validity here.

The idea of the Raptors getting embroiled in some inter-team skirmishes and frustrations seems alien to an organization that has generally been in lockstep over the last few years, but losing in this fashion may have eroded all that good will. Things are looking very glum in Toronto right now.

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Which Toronto Raptors players are frustrated with the team?

The most likely candidate, based on some amateur detective work, is OG Anunoby. While rumors that he was dissatisfied with his role on offense managed to pop up in the offseason, the fact that his responsibilities have largely remained the same amid such a tough stretch of basketball may have reignited his discontent.

Pascal Siakam and Scottie Barnes might moan all they want, but neither of them are going anywhere. Gary Trent Jr, a former teammate of McCollum, has been a consummate professional who has taken to whatever role Toronto has asked him to play in his contract season, so it would be a surprise if he was seething behind the scenes.

Could it be the struggling Fred VanVleet, who has been shooting 36% from the field since last season’s All-Star break? While he’s kept a stiff upper lip this season, would it surprise anyone if he was frustrated with Nurse and Ujiri for building a roster that lacked guard depth and forced him to play 37 minutes every night?

The Raptors are certainly not going to stay put at the trade deadline, and every loss makes it more likely that one of their big-name starters is going to be on the move. If McCollum’s scoop is accurate, there is some genuine discontent brewing in Toronto that threatens to cause problems.