After three straight seasons at or near the bottom of the league standings from 2020-23, the Rockets added Fred VanVleet in the 2023 offseason, and he’s helped jump-start significant improvement over the past two seasons. Houston improved 19 wins from 2022/23 to last season and they’re on a near-56-win pace this year, holding the No. 2 seed in the West.
VanVleet hasn’t been the sole reason for the Rockets’ improvement — they added fellow vet Dillon Brooks and are seeing growth from young players like Amen Thompson, Alperen Sengun, Jalen Green, and Tari Eason — but it’s no coincidence that his arrival coincided so directly with Houston’s climb to the top of the standings.
That’s why, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer, the Rockets and VanVleet have mutual interest in completing an agreement on a deal that keeps the veteran point guard in Houston. VanVleet has been a steadying force since arriving in Houston, averaging 16.5 points, 7.2 assists and 3.9 rebounds per game. He has ranked first among Rockets players in minutes in each of his first two seasons with the team.
VanVleet has a team option for next season worth about $44.9MM, but it sounds like there’s a chance that will be declined in order to allow both sides to rework a multi-year deal.
The Rockets’ affinity for VanVleet is presumably a factor in their reported reluctance to pursue De’Aaron Fox. According to Fischer, there’s some concern with how Fox would fit on a roster that is already seeing strong point guard play from VanVleet even if Fox’s age meets Houston’s competitive timeline.
IMO Rockets can only do 2 years $50 mm
Give them a call and let them know. I’m sure they’d be glad to hear from you.
I’d be curious to see how his call goes. Get to it Sullivan.
Vanvleet can get 4 years contract with team option after two years
Luxury tax in 2026
Rockets are likely to trade Smith for picks
keep Thompson, VanVleet and Eason
Every player needs pay cut to keep the team together
True value 2 years $38m IMO
You can tell the Rockets lack of desire to make changes to their roster will be their ultimate downfall
Yeah this feels like they are overvaluing Vanvleet’s impact. I would argue it was Udoka that was the driver behind it. Sure they needed vets to help that process but hanging on to them longterm because of it seems foolish.
Obviously it depends what the exact number and term comes in as.
If FVV goes back, he is not the starter, Amen is. That is change right there. Everybody in Houston and improved because of Udoka. That was the key change.
4 years 120 M, 4th year team option.
His market value is 3 years $100 million without option
Rockets have luxury tax issue in 2026
Pay cut is needed
Remember when everyone said Brooks was gonna be out of the league? That he was trash, WWE wrestler who didn’t belong basketball court? Real real quiet now hmmm