The Houston Rockets remain afloat in the Western Conference, but they head into February facing a potential need at point guard. Amen Thompson has performed admirably in the role, but Houston’s turnover issues have been exposed in Fred VanVleet’s absence, as the veteran guard recovers from an ACL injury.
With the trade deadline approaching, an 11-year veteran guard reportedly offered himself as a potential fill-in. However, the latest insider report suggests the Rockets have no interest in making a move.
Rockets Likely to Stand Pat at Point Guard Despite Fred VanVleet Injury
The Rockets currently sit fourth in the Western Conference with a 28–16 record. While they possess the makings of a championship-caliber team, the point guard position remains a potential weak spot. Former Brooklyn Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie offered himself as a solution, but according to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Rockets are not interested in him for now.
“Veteran guard Spencer Dinwiddie, back in the United States after mutually canceling his contract in Europe with Bayern Munich, said in a podcast interview this week that he “would absolutely love” to sign with the Rockets given the ongoing injury absence of Fred VanVleet,” Stein wrote.
“Houston, though, is not expected to look at potential free agent additions in the backcourt until after the trade deadline at the soonest.”
Amen Thompson has been the Rockets’ primary ball-handler in VanVleet’s absence. He has impressed this season, averaging career highs of 18.2 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game. However, Houston ranks 27th in turnover percentage, and that vulnerability could become costly down the stretch.
Dinwiddie has not played in the NBA this season but averaged 11.0 points, 4.4 assists, and 2.6 rebounds in 79 games with the Dallas Mavericks last year. The 32-year-old brings experience and could provide solid bench minutes at a relatively low cost.
“I’d love to go to the Rockets,” Dinwiddie said on the ‘Buckets Don’t Stop’ podcast. “One of my best NBA friends, Dorian Finney-Smith, is on the Rockets. I think the VanVleet injury really hurt them. I think they have all the makings of having that championship-type team. They have young talent in [Jabari] Smith and [Amen] Thompson. They got a great post-up threat and creator in [Alperen] Sengun and an all-time, all-world scorer in KD.
“I think a guard that can go in there, catch-and-shoot off of Sengun and KD [and] set the table would definitely help. Obviously, they have ample defense and three-and-D. I think all the makings are there. I would absolutely love to play there. We’ll see what happens with the trade deadline.”
While the Rockets appear to be standing pat at point guard, the team will likely hold internal discussions and explore all options, including Dinwiddie. With a deep playoff push ahead and VanVleet still sidelined, Houston must carefully manage turnovers and backcourt depth to protect their championship aspirations.
