The Upcoming Prospects for Houston Rockets' Point Guard Position
Two summers past, the Houston Rockets employed the fourth pick in the 2023 NBA draft, securing 6'7 guard Amen Thompson from the Overtime Elite. Parallelly, they doled out a substantial sum to sign seasoned guard Fred VanVleet to a hefty three-year, $128.54 million contract, causing a stir throughout the league. The contract saw VanVleet pocket an astounding $41 million last year. Notably, the Rockets opted for VanVleet over reported interest from ex-team stalwart James Harden, who was believed to be the team's cornerstone. The reasoning behind this move was that VanVleet would provide stability for the team's younger core and act as a stepping stone towards the future until Thompson was prepared to command the lead role.
VanVleet proved instrumental in securing a 41-win season for the Rockets, orchestrating a potent pick-and-roll duo with center Alperen Sengun. However, the team employed major draft capital once again this past summer to secure a point guard prospect, this time the third overall pick (acquired from the Brooklyn Nets in the Harden trade of 2021), sharpshooter Reed Sheppard from Kentucky. Marketing Sheppard as a potential lead guard, the team expected him to succeed in Thompson's impressive rookie campaign as a wing, with Thompson thriving in this role.
Fast-forward to today, and Thompson has become a crucial player on a Rockets team maintaining a presence among the conference elite, acting as a swiss-army knife for head coach Ime Udoka, while neutralizing opposing teams’ premier scorers, primarily serving as a wing. Conversely, Sheppard has grappled with his performance, shooting just 35.7% overall and 30.4% from beyond the arc, scarcely impacting the rookie rankings. Sheppard has showcased tentativeness and timidity during his roughly 12 minutes per game, proving unable to create scoring opportunities off the dribble.
Unfortunately, VanVleet, earning a substantial $42.85 million this season, has encountered shooting challenges across the board, averaging just 15.3 points and 6.0 rebounds, with shooting percentages of 37.7% overall and 30.3% from three-point range. The latter figure is particularly concerning, standing as the worst in his career, despite his 7.8 attempts per game. Last season, VanVleet delivered an acceptable 41.6% overall and 38.7% from three-point range, scores respectable enough to deter defenses from crowd-painting. In the Rockets’ most recent games, during key NBA Cup appearances, VanVleet struggled, shooting a paltry 3-for-13 and 3-for-15 against the Golden State Warriors and Oklahoma City Thunder.
The dilemma faced by the Rockets now involves an option on VanVleet’s contract for the upcoming summer, which would result in a $44.89 million payment next season when he is 31 years old. The team had extended both Sengun and Jalen Green's rookie contracts during the offseason, leading some to speculate that this set the stage for extending VanVleet at a more team-friendly cap figure the following summer. With VanVleet's current struggles and the absence of a clear successor, however, it is questionable whether the Rockets would be eager to invest in such a long-term commitment. Furthermore, neither prospectus heir apparent has emerged as prepared to assume the position's throne.
As the Rockets approach the trade deadline and the second half of the season, it serves as an intriguing situation worthy of observation.
The Rockets' decision to invest a significant amount of sports Money in Fred VanVleet was not just about his on-court performance, but also his ability to mentor younger players like Amen Thompson and provide stability to the team's future business strategy.
Despite the impressive draft picks, the Rockets are currently facing challenges with both VanVleet's and Reed Sheppard's performances, potentially impacting their business plans dependant on these players' success.
