Overview

• Fred VanVleet tore his ACL during an offseason workout and is expected to miss much of the 2025–26 season.
• Houston will not make reactionary moves, using the next few months to test Reed Sheppard and Amen Thompson in larger ball-handling roles, per The Stein Line.
• The Rockets plan to run more offense through Kevin Durant and Alperen Şengün to stabilize creation in VanVleet’s absence.
• First-apron constraints leave roughly $1.25 million of room, preventing a standard veteran minimum signing without clearing salary.
• Dec. 15 is the first meaningful window for broader trade options, while talks on a potential two-year, $122 million Durant extension continue.