Overview
- At media day Tuesday, coach Ime Udoka confirmed Fred VanVleet is fully cleared for training camp but said the team will limit his early workload by avoiding back-to-back games.
- Houston added veteran guards Marcus Smart and Bogdan Bogdanović and drafted Bruce Thornton to ease last season’s guard and shooting shortfalls and to create a deeper, more balanced rotation.
- Udoka pushed the internal goal past merely making the playoffs, citing the Rockets’ need to stop losing games after holding double-digit leads and to perform better in late-game moments.
- General manager Rafael Stone told reporters Kevin Durant is happy in Houston for now, though Durant himself pushed back on plans to cut his minutes because he says he helps the team most by playing.
- Analysts note the new depth gives Houston practical trade chips—Reed Sheppard, VanVleet and Clint Capela are seen as the likeliest movable pieces if the Rockets pursue roster rebalancing or another star.