Houston Rockets’ starting point guard Fred VanVleet has unfortunately suffered a severe injury with a torn ACL during training, marking a significant setback for the team, which recently acquired Kevin Durant. VanVleet’s absence not only impacts the backcourt strength but also poses greater challenges for Durant as he prepares for the new season. With salary cap limitations, the Rockets will face difficulties in bolstering their roster, making the outlook for the upcoming season even more uncertain.
In the off-season trades, the Houston Rockets successfully brought in Kevin Durant, who was highly expected to help them achieve better results in the 2025-26 season. However, with less than a month to go before the season starts, Fred VanVleet’s injury during training could see him miss the entire season, which significantly impacts the Rockets’ lineup.
Although VanVleet’s team option wasn’t picked up, the Rockets decided to extend their collaboration with him on a two-year, $50 million deal. He serves as a commander on the team, tasked with leading the young core. After facing playoff elimination last season, the team urgently needs his leadership abilities. While this recent injury has not completely dashed the Rockets’ hopes, history suggests that recovery times can be lengthy, as seen with cases like Jamal Murray and Kawhi Leonard, making the situation less than optimistic.
With Clint Capela joining the team, the Rockets must keep their salary within the cap, leaving them with only $1 million to work with. This makes it nearly impossible to sign other experienced point guards like Russell Westbrook. Currently, the available options for point guards are limited to the inexperienced Reed Sheppard and Aaron Holiday, who has mostly played as a third string throughout his career, highlighting the team’s significant lack of depth at the point guard position.
Even with Durant leading the Rockets, the shortage of guards remains a challenge. Although players like Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun have shown decent performances, the absence of VanVleet will test the team’s backcourt strength.
The salary cap regulations put the Rockets in a tight spot when it comes to finding a suitable point guard in the free market. To make any significant upgrades, they might have to wait for salary issues to arise during the season or look for opportunities to free up contract space through trades.
Last season, the Houston Rockets entered the playoffs as the second seed in the Western Conference, but were eliminated in the first round. This early exit can be largely attributed to the significant drop in performance of the young players under pressure. With VanVleet sidelined due to injury, the Rockets’ playoff aspirations seem increasingly dim. Whether the young players can find a breakthrough in this challenging situation will be pivotal for the remainder of the season.
For Durant, as the expectations of joining the Rockets face setbacks, if Amen Thompson cannot step up in the backcourt or Sheppard fails to develop quickly, the Rockets’ 2025-26 season will face even more challenges.
