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I watched this team more last year than anytime before. There is talent here. Consistency is what's lacking with the young guys. Yes there are issues, there are holes with the roster. Bench was one I spoke of often. I think Jeff is addressing it since arrival here. There's more to do.

Now one thing I didn't see last year as I watched these guys, was a clear indicator of who the leader or leaders of the team are. I think a lot of people would like to see Payton be that leader. I'm not sure that he is. He is not vocal enough, and just too laid back to even be a silent leader.

I just didn't see it from Gordon. Is it Vuc? Fournier? Even Bismack, he kinda seems like an outsider on this team, just from the body language on the floor and on the bench. This was in contrast to the one year Biz was in Toronto where Biz jelled with Raps team half way into the season.

And that to me is kind of an indication of the lack of leadership on the team. Leaders on the team make sure guys communicate, are on the same page, gets along well, integrates them into the team, sees similar vision, and helps drive the culture of the team.

Is my impression wrong? If so, who are the leaders here. If not, who has the most potential to develop into that leadership role, based on emotional maturity, and or past leadership roles in college/high school, personality, etc.

It's one of those softer issues with team chemistry etc. which I think will be a key thing to this team's talent "jelling" and growing in the future.

Payton takes over games and Fournier is a good vocal leader. Probably a combination of the two. There is no clear cut leader at the moment but that could change this season..

I think AG could develop into one. He handles post game interviews the best and seems confident in himself and isn't too negative. It's pretty hard to command the respect of being a leader until a few years in regardless unless you're a LeBron.

We've had a lot of turnover on the roster these last few years. I would venture to say that at some point maybe oladipo took on a leadership role and was the face of the team but even then I wouldn't say he was a true leader. Other guys we've had during this rebuild like Vuc and Evan have been here the longest and neither are alphas and have never taken on that role.

I'm sure that's been a big part of the problem though. Not only not having a leader on the roster but we haven't had a consistent leader as a coach either with so much turnover in that area the last 5 years as well. Biz seemed like at first he wanted to take on that leadership role when he got here but with him being so new to the team and with all the losing last year it never really caught on. I think Ibaka tried to at first as well but gave up on the team at some point and never became that leader for us either.

As SOUL said, Aaron's a guy that I think as he continues to grow could take on that leadership role. He's a very high character guy and in the post game and halftime interviews he shows some leadership qualities.

What's going to help is if we can start winning some games in the next couple years. I think if that happens some of these guys like biz and AG could step up and take on that role, but the losing has just made it hard.

This team has no leaders... Older guys like Vucevic and Fournier have seniority but their personality types don't exhibit leadership (IMO). Eflrid and Aaron are either not good enough or don't make enough of an impact on the game consistently for guys to look at them for guidance. I felt like Tobias Harris was probably the only guy who was probably looked at for leadership, but obviously that didn't work out under Skiles. The team seemed like they lost their edge when he left.

PrimeShaq wrote:What's going to help is if we can start winning some games in the next couple years. I think if that happens some of these guys like biz and AG could step up and take on that role, but the losing has just made it hard.

I think that's when you need leadership the most, in adversity.

Hopefully as Jeff said the continuity through this summer to next season with a full camp will sort some things out over the course of the year.

JF5 wrote:This team has no leaders... Older guys like Vucevic and Fournier have seniority but their personality types don't exhibit leadership (IMO). Eflrid and Aaron are either not good enough or don't make enough of an impact on the game consistently for guys to look at them for guidance. I felt like Tobias Harris was probably the only guy who was probably looked at for leadership, but obviously that didn't work out under Skiles. The team seemed like they lost their edge when he left.

So that's what I thought and you guys have confirmed it. Who's going to bring the team together? A coach can only go so far in creating chemistry. So this will stay a big question mark over the next season.

I didn't see a lot of Magic with Tobias but that's an interesting observation. I agree with your assessment of Vuc and Fournier as I didn't see it from them in games.

Jeff seems like a high emotional intelligence guy, and he'll figure out that part of team chemistry with Vogel and see if any of the young stars grow into that role. The other thing to do is bring in a vet with proven work ethic and leadership abilities to the team to help mentor the young guys off the bench.

No doubt the leadership on this team has been non existent and I don't see any of the Vuc, Evan, Elf, Ross crowd emerging as a leader. The vets that are here and are new aren't good enough. Can't speak yet for Simmons or the rookies. We've said many times we got too many laid back nice guys.

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JF5 wrote:This team has no leaders... Older guys like Vucevic and Fournier have seniority but their personality types don't exhibit leadership (IMO). Eflrid and Aaron are either not good enough or don't make enough of an impact on the game consistently for guys to look at them for guidance. I felt like Tobias Harris was probably the only guy who was probably looked at for leadership, but obviously that didn't work out under Skiles. The team seemed like they lost their edge when he left.

I'm going to reach a little bit and say it could be Simmons. The guy has scratched and clawed his way into the league, learned from two years under Pop, and seems to play with 100% effort at all times. Wouldn't shock me if he turns into one of the team leaders.

I think leadership is really overblown. I suppose it helps when your best player is also a model professional, but one player will never dictate the culture of your locker room.

We have Frank Vogel. That is our leader.

You want a locker room full of professionals that put team goals ahead of personal preferences. You don't want players that respond to adversity by finger-pointing. I'm hopeful that our new-found depth undermines the hierarchical entitlements that some members of this roster enjoyed during the Hennigan era.

I think Payton is the leader of the floor, by nature of his role.

Fournier is fiery and chatty and can be really inspiring when he's hitting big time clutch shots, but his trust in his teammates stops him from being a true leader just yet.

AG is the most passionate. He gets fired up after big plays and you can see that carry through the rest of the team - particularly Elf.

Vuc can lead through motivation when he has a hot offensive run. He can take over a game for long stretches and that seems to inspire at least a couple of the guys.

Biz is a great hustle guy who doesn't complain. I think he's inspiring at least.

Simmons is a dark horse for voice to take over the team.

All in all, that element should fall into place this year if we play to everyone's strengths.

Last year: Evan, Vuc and EP. However I don't think any of them were happy about the structure of the roster and the way the season was going. Hard to be the captain of a sinking ship.

Biz provides leadership in the context of hustle and hard work, but I don't think he has enough respect to be the leader of the locker room.

AG- not a leader. Great individual and high character guy but I don't see any real accountability type leadership from him, although he is still so young.

I think this group of tough veteran guys Welt and Co have brought in will establish the kind of accountability that the younger players will respond to. Probably take some of the load off of Evan and Vuc.

You don't need a single leader if you have the group mentality set.

JF5 wrote:Older guys like Vucevic and Fournier ......

This made me giggle as Vučević is 26 and Fournier is 24.


As for leadership, wiki says Fournier is team captain. Not sure I recall that.



..

There is no leader on this team even with all our new acquisitions.

DiplomaticMagic wrote:There is no leader on this team even with all our new acquisitions.

Yeah I think that's an issue. Every team needs a bull (or two) to pull the cart, rope everyone in and drag them along wherever they're going. Cavs, Celtics, Raps, GSW, Rockets, OKC, etc. Teams with weak leadership just don't live up to their talent.

Weltman and Vogel will have to do some team engineering here.

Bring in a veteran who's been successful elsewhere, who's been through a few playoff wars, and who has the people skills to be a good locker room influence, not necessarily the alpha, I think would be huge here. And AA I don't see him to be that guy.

I think only fournier has the fiery and vocal character with enough skill to be leader on the team right now. gordon is too nice, vuc is too chill and elf is an introvert. rest of the guys are not talented enough. maybe simmons by the next season, or gordon down the line once he is older.

___Rand___ wrote:
Bring in a veteran who's been successful elsewhere, who's been through a few playoff wars, and who has the people skills to be a good locker room influence, not necessarily the alpha, I think would be huge here.

Sounds like a certain PF wearing #9 for the Raptors.

I see your concern but I don't know what will be needed to address this barring a star growing from the draft picks or via trade.

Fournier leader ur kidding me hahahahahhaha.

Guy is so femine he probably have vagina.

OrlandoTill wrote:

___Rand___ wrote:
Bring in a veteran who's been successful elsewhere, who's been through a few playoff wars, and who has the people skills to be a good locker room influence, not necessarily the alpha, I think would be huge here.

Sounds like a certain PF wearing #9 for the Raptors.

I see your concern but I don't know what will be needed to address this barring a star growing from the draft picks or via trade.

Yeah it will need to be addressed either organically or through trade or picks. PGs had been the leaders in Toronto. I liked Calderon as a selfless leader of the team, and he had to be traded away for Lowry to take over, who wanted to be alpha of a team and got his wish in Toronto.

Having seen Ibaka up close, I can see that he doesn't have that personality nor the people skills to influence teammates, and if that was a reason for his presence in Orlando, I can see why it didn't work out, aside from other issues.

Veyron wrote:Fournier leader ur kidding me hahahahahhaha.

Guy is so femine he probably have vagina.

His girlfriend is extremely hot and nice. Had the pleasure of after dinner drinks with them and a buddy of mine a year or so ago.