Overview

• ESPN's Shams Charania reported VanVleet suffered a torn ACL, with Yahoo Sports adding it occurred during a team minicamp in the Bahamas and that surgery is scheduled this week.
• The Rockets have not issued a formal timetable, but multiple reports indicate he could miss most or all of the 2025-26 season.
• With their starting point guard out, Houston is expected to lean on Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard, with veteran Aaron Holiday also in the mix for ballhandling duties.
• Houston is hard-capped at the first apron and sits roughly $1.25 million below it, limiting immediate external additions even if a disabled player exception is granted.
• VanVleet re-signed in June on a two-year, $50 million deal with a 2026-27 player option after helping fuel a 52-win season; his absence dims expectations after the offseason trade for Kevin Durant.