Houston Rockets veteran guard Fred VanVleet had a relatively successful first season. He anchored the Rockets young core offense with 17.8 points and 8.1 assists on 38.1% from deep. Not to mention his health was solid, playing 73 games, and had been primary factor in Houston’s success from the depths of tanking, climbing to 41 wins and one game shy of a play-in appearance. Not only was he productive player on the court, but also his vocal leadership in the locker room instilled poise in Houston’s young core.
While this is all well and good to hear, the 2024-2025 season could be the final year in which VanVleet plays in a Rockets uniform. Let’s talk about it.
Rockets main plan with VanVleet
The primary objective for the Rockets was to dramatically get out of the hole that was the Stephen Silas era. The core potential of Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, and Kevin Porter Jr. were stalling, and the current staff and veterans centered around the players weren’t getting the job done, arguably stalling the cores development.
The answer to this consisted of signing a new coach and acquiring a veteran lead player. The Rockets answered this with Ime Udoka and signing veteran guard and NBA champion Fred VanVleet in the summer of 2023. These moves indicated the team was ready to make the jump to the next level. Already the Rockets looked different.
And they were in all the right ways. Rounding out the roster for pieces in Dillon Brooks, Jock Landale and Jeff Green, the Rockets surged into a 41-41 record, a 19-game jump from the previous season and one game away from making the play-in. This proved to be a successful season nonetheless, creating another stepping stone for Udoka’s team.
VanVleet’s role in Year 2
Based on the growth of the past season, expect the upcoming season to be playoff bound. This marks the second year under head coach Ime Udoka along with VanVleet and company. More importantly, this amplifies the development of players such as the infamously coined “Core Six,” in Sengun, Green, Tari Eason, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., and Cam Whitmore.
Each of them get another season together with much improved development and add another piece to the mix in 3rd overall pick Reed Sheppard.
Reed Sheppard, Rockets guard at Summer League
Like VanVleet, Sheppard is an undersized combo guard who can facilitate, create his own shot, and has quick hands on the perimeter. We saw this in action, especially in the 2024 Summer League. In the four games he performed, the Wildcat product averaged 20 points, 4.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists, with 2.7 steals and 1.3 blocks on 57% true shooting. The way he initiated the offense and felt comfortable on the court bodes a similar shade to the Rockets veteran starting point guard.
VanVleet exit strategy
Obviously it’s hard to translate the Summer League to a regular NBA season, but there is huge upside for the rookie. If Sheppard performs exceedingly well in his first year, herein lies the question: Do they need to keep VanVleet after the conclusion of the 2024-2025 season? Don’t forget Amen Thompson‘s minutes as well, as Houston had to change Thompson’s playstyle to a wing in order to earn significant minutes while VanVleet was on the floor.
The former Raptor includes a club option on his contract of $44.8 million in Year 3 in which he will be 31 years old. Initially, Both Sengun and Green were in talks for rookie max extensions this season, but Stone decided to hold off on them till next year. Keeping both of them is highly unlikely if VanVleet’s contract is still on the payroll.
Realistically, the Rockets need VanVleet for at least one more season in order to solidify the type of culture general manager Rafael Stone and Udoka are looking for. After 2024-2025 could be a different story. Even so, trade talks have already sprinkled surrounding the 30-year old guard to key teams that need a quality guard for a better replacement.
Lakers lurking in the midst
Via Anthony Duckett of Sports Illustrated, the Los Angeles Lakers are interested in trading with the Rockets to land the NBA champion, mainly due to their lack of reliability with current point guard D’Angelo Russell. Age is becoming a major factor with the Lakers as well, with superstar LeBron James turning 40 in December. Due to father time, James is gradually becoming less reliable on a consistent basis. Russell, who was tasked adding more offense and facilitation while giving James and Anthony Davis a break hasn’t resulted well in his second stint in a Lakers uniform.
Plenty of guards in the past such as Dejounte Murray, Kyrie Irving, and Tyus Jones were linked to Los Angeles. Unfortunately for them, no moves have been made. Adding VanVleet to the mix is a likely fit on the court, but the contract is hefty. Should Los Angeles decide to bite, they’d need to gut more of their draft picks as well as their bench to achieve the veteran point guard.
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