Fred VanVleet Admits It Was 'Time for a Change of Scenery' in Departure from Raptors

Former Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet talks leadership, Houston Rockets future, and free agency in first media since signing his new contract

Aaron Rose | Jul 13, 2023

Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

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Toronto will always be a special place for Fred VanVleet.

It was the city where he first found his NBA footing and home to the organization that gave him his first chance. He struggled to put into words what the Toronto Raptors have meant to him, as he said in his good-bye Instagram post following his departure for the Houston Rockets. But throughout the process, he’s always been grateful to the team.

And yet, when free agency rolled around two weeks ago, VanVleet realized his time in Toronto was coming to an end.

“I think it was time for a change of scenery,” VanVleet told Coty Davis and the gathered Rockets media at Las Vegas Summer League. “Just really excited about being with a new group and trying to lead these guys as best I can.”

VanVleet said he’s looking forward to getting a fresh start and taking on a leadership role for the young Rockets. Houston has been among the league’s worst teams over the past few seasons, but the organization has gone all-in on maturity and moving past their losing ways.

It'll be a challenge for VanVleet who had been in a similar position with the Raptors over the past two seasons. Toronto tanked the 2020-21 season and ultimately nabbed Scottie Barnes with the No. 4 pick.

The 2021-22 season had been all sunshine and rainbows for the Raptors who defied the odds and clinched the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference on the back of an All-Star season from VanVleet, an All-NBA season from Pascal Siakam, and a Rookie of the Year campaign from Barnes.

“But last year was up and down season for us,” VanVleet admitted. “So I’ve had some experience with young guys obviously, we had Scottie and other young guys that were working through it.”

What’s clear is that VanVleet’s leadership style didn’t mesh so well with the Raptors last season. Sportsnet’s Michael Grange reported VanVleet and Siakam were “deeply frustrated” with their younger teammates. VanVleet didn’t exactly spill the beans on the situation but he admitted on The Pivot Podcast that the team didn’t click.

Managing that leadership style on a new team with similarly young players is going to be a challenge for VanVleet in Houston but it’s also why the Rockets brought him in.

“They don't want me to be anybody but myself,” he said.

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