The Houston Rockets are shifting their approach this season following the injury to Fred VanVleet. According to Jake Fischer, the team plans to use the next few months to evaluate rookie Reed Sheppard and second-year swingman Amen Thompson as primary ballhandlers, testing their ability to create in the open floor before the trade market heats up on December 15.
“The word out of Houston is that the Rockets will use the next few months to evaluate both recent No. 3 pick Reed Sheppard and standout swingman Amen Thompson in greater ball-handling capacities before Trade Season truly begins Dec. 15,” wrote Fischer.
VanVleet tore his ACL on Monday, in devastating news for the Rockets. He was supposed to be a major piece of their team, but the Rockets are forced to adjust now, with him expected to miss most of the upcoming season.
“There is no shortage of support in the Rockets’ organization for putting the ball in Thompson’s hands more to see what he can do on the open floor. There is likewise hope that some of the offense can run through big man Alperen Sengun and newly acquired Kevin Durant.”
After finishing second in the West last campaign, Houston lost in the first round against the Warriors. By bringing in Kevin Durant, they hoped to increase their potential and position themselves for a run in the West. Now, however, they’ve suffered a major setback that will require some quick adjustments on the fly.
With averages of 14.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 5.6 assists in 2024-25, VanVleet’s offensive skills kept the Rockets alive on that end of the floor. As a versatile ball handler and crafty scorer, he brought a certain spark to the Rockets that helped them outperform most expectations.
With Durant, Houston had ambitions of competing for a championship, right on par with other contenders like the Thunder, Nuggets, and Lakers. Without their starting point guard, the Rockets are going to have to look to other sources to lead their offense, and we can expect them to lean on young players like Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard to fill the void. Another option is Kevin Durant.
As a two-time champion and Hall of Famer, Durant is an offensive genius, and his skills go beyond just scoring the basketball. His experience and well-rounded game also mean he’s great at running the offense and finding open teammates under pressure.
With Durant running point and Sengun in the frontcourt, the Rockets still have a formidable unit that can compete with the best in the West. Under head coach Ima Udoka, Houston can rally together and use VanVleet’s injury to bring everyone closer.
Ultimately, only time will tell how much VanVleet’s absence hurts the Rockets, but they haven’t let it interrupt their goals this season. Their mission remains the same, and they have more than enough pieces to get the job done or make another trade to even the odds.
The Rockets’ season will look different than what anyone expected, but the blueprint is still in place. With Durant leading, Sengun anchoring the middle, and Sheppard and Thompson stepping into bigger roles, Houston has a chance to turn adversity into opportunity. If they can find their rhythm, the loss of VanVleet won’t define them; it could be the moment that shapes their rise.
