Heading into training camp, the Houston Rockets looked like a strong contender. Unfortunately for the Rockets, Fred VanVleet will now miss all of next season, suddenly throwing their team into chaos.
They desperately needed him, given his shooting and playmaking, not to mention the Rockets are frontcourt heavy and thin in the backcourt. Without VanVleet, Houston will have to rely on Reed Sheppard, Amen Thompson, and Aaron Holiday.
That might be enough to hold down the fort but perhaps not enough for the Rockets to be a title contender. At least, not without a trade.
The Rockets’ trade deadline plans are already crystal clear
The Rockets will certainly need a starting point guard and have the assets to land one. The only catch is that pretty much every player on their roster can’t be traded until December 15th. That means they can’t land a starting point guard for about two months into the season.
That might not be enough to derail their season, but it could affect their seeding if their current guard rotation falls flat on its face. The most likely scenario is that they will start Sheppard, who, despite being the third overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, didn’t look the part last season.
He might be tossed into the deep end, and if he swims, then he’d give them much-needed shooting. If not, then they will have to rely more on Thompson, giving them a potential nightmare lineup that features plenty of length, size, and a lot of defense.
They might not have a lot of shooting in that scenario. Nevertheless, they still won 52 games while ranking 21st in 3-point percentage last season.
The Rockets must target a starting point guard
Still, the Rockets need more shooting and must target a starting point guard who can shoot. The Boston Celtics’ Anfernee Simons would be perfect considering that he is one of the best high-volume 3-point shooters in the NBA.
Also, the Chicago Bulls’ Coby White would be a big swing but could yield big results. The Rockets will have to weigh whether those moves make sense and will have two months to evaluate how they look at point guard. But if they need one, then they will definitely be looking for a starting point guard ahead of the trade deadline.
