After a relatively encouraging offseason, the Houston Rockets now find themselves on uncertain terrain heading into 2025-26.
One-time All-Star Houston point guard Fred VanVleet tore his ACL during an offseason workout, and could be on the shelf for much of the regular season. Reed Sheppard, the No. 3 pick in last year’s draft who barely cracked Ime Udoka’s rotation in 2024-25, will presumably be elevated into a starting role in his stead.
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With a largely unproven game manager at the helm of Houston’s offense, the Rockets’ outlook as true Western Conference contenders seems somewhat murky.
Prior to the injury, however, Houston looked like legitimate threats to the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder and the revamped Denver Nuggets.
Led by All-Star center Alperen Sengun, All-Defensive Team wing Amen Thompson, and rising forwards Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason, last year’s Rockets nabbed a 52-30 record and the No. 2 seed in the West. They fell in the first round.
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These additions — along with the team’s decisions to re-sign VanVleet and another backup center, Steven Adams — fully installed the pre-VanVleet ACL tear Rockets as inner circle title contenders.
The Rockets offloaded starting wings Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green, the No. 10 pick in this year’s draft (used on Duke center Khaman Maluach) and five future second-round picks to the Phoenix Suns for 15-time All-Star power forward Kevin Durant as part of a seven-team mega-trade. Houston also signed 3-and-D combo forward Dorian Finney-Smith to a four-year, $52.7 million free agent deal and brought in vets Clint Capela and Josh Okogie.
Although that may not be the case anymore, the Rockets are still thinking about their immediate future.
Per Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, Houston is expected to reach a contract extension agreement with Durant, 37.
“The belief persists that Durant, meanwhile, will eventually land a contract extension from his new team. He’s eligible to sign a two-year extension with the Rockets for a maximum $122 million,” writes Fischer.
In 62 healthy bouts for the 36-46 Suns, Durant averaged 26.6 points on .527/.430/.839 shooting splits, 6.0 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.2 blocks and 0.8 steals a night.
Eason, too, is eligible for his own extension of his rookie deal. Should Houston not come to terms on an extension with Eason’s reps, he’ll reach restricted free agency next summer.
“Less clear is whether the Rockets and Tari Eason can come to terms on a rookie-scale contract before the parties’ Oct. 20 deadline on the night before Houston opens the regular season as Oklahoma City’s Ring Night visiting foe,” Fischer adds.
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