The Houston Rockets’ point guard depth is about to be tested this upcoming season, following Fred VanVleet’s untimely ACL injury that he sustained during a recent offseason workout.
With VanVleet looking at a serious recovery timeline, the Houston Rockets would be keen to add another floor general, and Bleacher Report’s Andrew Peters named Ben Simmons as one of the top candidates. However, they need to make a trade first since they’re $1.25 below the first apron, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks.
“The 29-year-old is now hoping to stay relevant in the league, and the Rockets’ point guard vacancy could give him the chance to do so,” Peters wrote.
“Simmons is far from the player he once was, as he averaged just 5.0 points, 5.6 assists, and 4.7 rebounds per game in 51 contests last year. While he’s not going to be a double-digit scorer, he’s still a talented playmaker, and that’s what Houston needs now that it has one of the best scorers in the NBA with Durant,” he added.
Houston Rockets News: Reed Sheppard and Amen Thompson could soak up more PG minutes, per analyst
With VanVleet’s 2025-26 NBA season in limbo, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype believes that the Houston Rockets will open up more point guard opportunities for Reed Sheppard and Amen Thompson this year.
“With Fred VanVleet suffering a torn ACL and needing surgery, expect Reed Sheppard and Amen Thompson to see more playing time at point guard,” Scotto wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter). “The VanVleet injury is a significant blow to the Houston Rockets, who added Kevin Durant with the hope of competing for an NBA championship.”
Sheppard barely played in his rookie NBA season, averaging 4.4 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.4 assists on 35.1 percent shooting from the field in 12.6 minutes per game across 52 regular season appearances. In contrast, Thompson was a key cog in the Houston Rockets’ playoff run, averaging 14.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.3 blocks on 55.7 percent shooting from the field across 69 regular season appearances.
