Report: Fred VanVleet, Siakam Were 'Deeply Frustrated' with Raptors' Younger Players

Fred VanVleet and Pascal Siakam reportedly took issue with some of the Toronto Raptors' younger players last season.

According to Michael Grange of Sportsnet, both VanVleet and Siakam were "deeply frustrated," and VanVleet made his frustrations known to the younger players, which they "didn't appreciate at all."

Siakam remains on the Raptors' roster, but VanVleet signed a three-year, $128.5 million contract with the Houston Rockets in free agency.

It remains possible that Siakam could soon be on his way out of Toronto as well, with Grange reporting that there has been "persistent speculation" about a trade involving the two-time All-Star.

Grange noted that head coach Nick Nurse was unable to "bridge the divide" between the veterans and young players last season, which perhaps led to his firing despite having led the Raptors to their first and only championship in 2019.

The Raptors were expected to be a threat in the Eastern Conference last season, but they went just 41-41 and lost in the postseason play-in tournament, leaving them outside the playoffs for the second time in three years.

No specifics were given regarding which young players VanVleet and Siakam had problems with, but Scottie Barnes, Gary Trent Jr., OG Anunoby, Precious Achiuwa and Christian Koloko were some of the notable players aged 25 or younger on the roster last season.

Barnes is the Raptors' biggest foundational piece, as he won the NBA Rookie of the Year award in 2022 after going fourth overall in the 2021 NBA draft out of Florida State.

In his debut season, Barnes was a driving force behind the Raptors going 48-34 and reaching the playoffs, as he averaged 15.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.1 steals per game.

Last season, the 21-year-old Barnes didn't necessarily build upon his spectacular rookie campaign, as he averaged 15.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.1 steals per game.

Barnes also shot just 45.6 percent from the field and 28.1 percent from beyond the arc last season after shooting 49.2 percent from the floor and 30.1 percent from distance as a rookie.

Barnes' lack of progression may have been a microcosm of the Raptors' issues last season and a sign that they needed some huge changes both in terms of coaching and personnel.

VanVleet has moved on to a Houston team that will require him to help develop young players like Jalen Green, Jabari Smith and Amen Thompson, whereas Siakam is still in Toronto for now and may have to work out some issues with his teammates if the plan is for him to remain in the fold next season.