Fred VanVleet Injury Puts Rockets Players Under Trade Threat as Insider Dismisses RFA Plans

Coming off a 52–30 season, the Rockets entered a crucial summer and reshaped their roster with bold, calculated moves. At the center of it all is Kevin Durant, now the face of the franchise, supported by key pieces like Dorian Finney-Smith and Clint Capela. The real win, though, is how GM Rafael Stone managed to pull this off while keeping the team under the first apron. Still, the looming question remains: is Durant enough to push Houston to the promised land? Or who else will rise alongside him to join the climb?

Fred VanVleet’s season hangs in the balance after a torn ACL, ESPN’s Shams Charania reports. The setback comes right after Houston declined his $44.9M team option, only to re-sign him to a two-year, $50M deal with a 2026–27 player option. Since arriving in 2023 on a three-year, $128M contract, VanVleet has been key, averaging 14.9 points, 5.7 assists, and 3.4 rebounds last season. At 31, he also starred in the playoffs, rallying the Rockets from a 3–1 deficit to force a Game 7 against Golden State. Now, both his future and the franchise’s path are uncertain.

Keith Smith of Spotrac summed up Houston’s cap situation bluntly on X: “Rockets don’t have room under their first-apron hard cap to sign another player right now. Barring a salary-clearing move, Houston will be able to sign a player in early-January to a rest-of-season contract.“ Translation? The Rockets are essentially maxed out under the first apron at $195,945,000. They have just under $1.3 million in wiggle room, but with a fully loaded roster, that’s barely enough to make a move. Unless Houston finds a way to clear some salary through a trade, their next opportunity to add a veteran won’t come until January.

This tight cap situation also puts some of their players under the trade microscope. Six Rockets—Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr., Amen Thompson, Reed Sheppard, and Tari Eason—are technically trade-eligible, but maneuvering won’t be simple. Any potential moves have to factor in future extensions, too. Durant, the crown jewel of their offseason, can sign a two-year, $122 million extension after this season, and he’s been eligible since July 6. Tari Eason is also up for an extension; if it isn’t sorted by the October 20 deadline for 2022 draftees, he’ll hit restricted free agency in 2026.

Adding to the complexity, Houston can’t trade any players signed this summer—including Steven Adams, Clint Capela, Jae’Sean Tate, or Josh Okogie—until December 15. And three vets—Fred VanVleet, Jae’Sean Tate, and Aaron Holiday—have implied no-trade clauses, meaning they can block any deal involving them. So even if VanVleet’s availability becomes an issue, moving him isn’t straightforward. The simplest solution? Hope that 2024 lottery pick Reed Sheppard makes a big leap in his second year. After averaging just 4.4 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 12.6 minutes per game as a rookie, he’ll need a major jump, especially in offensive efficiency, to fill any void. Shooting 35% from the field and 33% from deep won’t cut it on a team aiming for a championship.

Put it all together, and Houston’s 2025–26 season is a balancing act. With Fred VanVleet’s uncertain role, a hard-capped roster, extension deadlines looming, and limited trade flexibility, the Rockets have some tricky decisions ahead. If they can’t move salary or find the right trade for Fleet, their plans for restricted free agents and long-term growth could be on hold.

Rockets’ potential free-agent options amid cap crunch

ESPN’s Bobby Marks summed up Houston’s cap mess on X: “Barring a trade, Houston cannot fill their open roster spot with a FA. They are $1.25M below the 1st apron. They are allowed to file for a Disabled Player Exception (valued at $14.1M). But cannot use because of the apron.” Basically, even if the Rockets qualify for a Disabled Player Exception—worth up to $12.5 million based on VanVleet’s $25 million salary—they can’t exceed the first apron. Without clearing space through a trade, bringing in a free agent this season isn’t happening, reported B/R.

If they somehow make room, Ben Simmons is an option. Once the No. 1 overall pick and a rising star, Simmons has struggled with injuries and consistency, averaging just 5 points, 5.6 assists, and 4.7 rebounds in 51 games last season. He’s far from a double-digit scorer now, but his playmaking could be exactly what Houston needs to complement Kevin Durant.

Quentin Grimes is another possibility. After a breakout season averaging 21.9 points following his trade from Dallas to Philadelphia, he could fill Fred VanVleet’s spot—assuming the Sixers don’t match any offer. With the offseason winding down and no new deal yet, a change of scenery might be on the table.

And then there’s Russell Westbrook, who declined his $3.47 million player option with Denver and remains unsigned as training camp approaches. A return to Houston—where he starred alongside Durant back in Oklahoma City in 2019-20—would be a headline grabber. Last season in Denver, he averaged 13.3 points, 6.1 assists, and 4.9 rebounds off the bench, giving Houston flexibility to either start him or let rookie Reed Sheppard take over while providing a reliable veteran presence.