The Houston Rockets entered the 2025 offseason with optimism as they rode the momentum of finishing the season with a strong 52-30 record and clinching their first playoff berth in years.
Their postseason run was cut short. They fell to the Golden State Warriors in seven games during the opening round. That disappointment lit a fire under the front office, which responded with bold offseason moves, including the headline-grabbing acquisition of Kevin Durant.
For a franchise determined to return to contention, the Rockets seemed to be building a strong foundation. But just as the excitement was building, an unexpected setback struck.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, veteran guard Fred VanVleet suffered a torn ACL during a Houston team minicamp in the Bahamas. The injury is significant enough that he is set to undergo surgery this week, sidelining him for the majority, if not the entirety, of the 2025-26 campaign.
Ever since word of VanVleet’s injury spread, speculation has run rampant about how the Rockets plan to fill the void. Some analysts have suggested Houston could explore the trade market, especially given the team’s win-now mindset after adding Durant.
What NBA Insiders Said Regarding the Rockets’ Plans After the Fred VanVleet Injury
In his eponymous show, Kevin O’Connor discussed the Rockets’ next steps future with The Athletic’s Kelly Iko.
“So, Houston is in a position right now where I talked to a bunch of executives over the last 24 hours since the injury happened. I asked, ‘What do you think Houston’s going to do?’ All of them said they’re likely going to go into the year with the team they have, play the young guys, then come December or January, that’s when you think about making moves or trades,” O’Connor said.
Iko echoed O’Connor’s statements, emphasizing that it’s far too early for any definitive answers.
“Yeah, not at this time. I don’t. I think it’s still pretty raw in their minds. I talked to them the other day, and they said, ‘Look, this is the bed that we made. If we’re going into the season, these are the guys we’re going to battle with. Come December, you might have different conversations. Clint Capela is making a team-friendly salary; you could see something happen with that,” Iko said.
VanVleet’s journey to this point makes the situation all the more bittersweet. He entered the league in 2016 as an undrafted free agent out of Wichita State and carved out a role with the Toronto Raptors. He became a fan favorite and an instrumental piece in their 2019 championship run.
His steady play and relentless work ethic earned him a 2022 All-Star nod and also paved the way for his blockbuster three-year, $130 million deal with Houston in 2023.
In the 2024–25 season, VanVleet suited up for 60 games with the Rockets and averaged 14.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game. Though his numbers dipped slightly compared to the prior year due to nagging injuries and Houston’s shift toward developing younger guards, he remained a dependable floor general. His defensive grit shone as well, as he averaged 1.6 steals per contest.
One of his standout performances last season came on Dec. 1, when he dropped 38 points against the Oklahoma City Thunder in a narrow 119-116 win, reminding fans of his ability to take over games when it mattered most.
Now, as the Rockets navigate this unexpected challenge, all eyes are on general manager Rafael Stone and his front office to see how they’ll handle the situation — and whether the solution already lies in-house with Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard.
