It is a phrase Fred VanVleet has used a couple of times — not in any derogatory fashion, because that’s neither his personality nor the reality of the situation.
The Raptors guard watches relatively unknown teammates and opponents burst on to the scene, rattling off a couple of good games that get the fans and media buzzing about the possibilities and a seemingly bright future.
They are, he says, “shiny new toys.”
Few know who they are, and they capture the imagination before reality eventually hits home, their contributions level off and the buzz dissipates almost as quickly as it came.