Houston Rockets starting point guard Fred VanVleet suffered a torn right ACL last week during a team minicamp scrimmage in the Bahamas, multiple sources told Yahoo Sports. VanVleet, 31, is expected to undergo surgery later this week.
The news comes at a brutal time for the organization, with training camp just a week away and the franchise pivoting to a title pursuit following the offseason arrival of 14-time All-Star forward Kevin Durant. Over the past two seasons, VanVleet had established himself as the extension of head coach Ime Udoka on and off the court, providing Houston’s youth with structure, much-needed floor spacing and ball security. The Rockets rewarded him with a two-year, $50 million extension this offseason.
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The team’s options at this juncture, as it pertains to outside help, are limited. Houston is currently hard-capped at the first apron, projected at $195.9 million, which prevents it from seeking veteran guards still on the market, including Seth Curry, Malik Beasley and Russell Westbrook. The organization also re-signed a slew of its own players this offseason in Jabari Smith Jr., Steven Adams, Jae’Sean Tate and Aaron Holiday — and they aren’t trade-eligible until mid-December, not to mention the fact the Rockets don’t want to lose additional players.
Despite VanVleet’s streaky shooting over the past two seasons, his ability to stabilize the team in the halfcourt (94th percentile in turnover percentage last season, per Cleaning the Glass) will be sorely missed — in addition to his consistent effort at the other end as a defensive playmaker. Houston now must shift the bulk of VanVleet’s workload to guards Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard.
For Thompson, who enjoyed a breakout season earning All-Defensive honors and averaged a shade under four assists per game in 69 starts, assuming more playmaking duties will only augment his rapid development. The departure of Jalen Green opened the door for more opportunities for Thompson, and VanVleet’s unfortunate injury only reinforces that.
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For Sheppard, the second-year guard…
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