Shockwaves were sent through Houston last week when it was announced that Rockets point guard Fred VanVleet was expected to miss the entire 2025-26 NBA season. Losing a veteran starter, the heart and soul of the team, and the best two-way guard on the team will certainly hurt any team in the league, but it's especially damaging for the Rockets, who were already lacking in backcourt depth.
The financial and legal constraints surrounding the team force the Rockets to start the season with their current core (h/t @YossiGozlan). That means that Reed Sheppard will be a part of the rotation, regardless of whether he is ready to contribute to a contender or not. He even has a chance to be the starting point guard on opening night, putting a lot of pressure on the 21-year-old.
What puts even more pressure on his shoulders is the fact that if he doesn't perform well immediately, he could quickly become expendable and be replaced, putting him on the thinnest of ice.
Reed Sheppard Will Be on Thin Ice in Houston Until Further Notice
The Rockets are no longer the young, scrappy team that is difficult to play against. They are in win-now mode with the addition of Kevin Durant. They are starting the season as one of the biggest challengers to the Oklahoma City Thunder's throne, meaning that they don't have much time to waste or developmental minutes to give to struggling young players.
Sheppard will begin the season with a large role in the backcourt, almost by default. Amen Thompson and Aaron Holiday are the only other guards who can handle the ball. But more importantly, Sheppard is desperately needed for his shooting ability. Losing VanVleet means that the Rockets lost their second-best shooter after KD, and replacing that will be difficult on a team full of defense-first, athletic wings whose shots are works in progress.
The former Kentucky star has to make enough shots to be able to space the floor around Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson. The Sengun-Thompson-Durant trio could be enough in terms of playmaking and creation, but they need as much space as possible to operate. That is why guys like Sheppard, Dorian Finney-Smith, Tari Eason, and Jabari Smith Jr. need to make shots to prevent opposing defenses from packing the paint.
If Sheppard can do that, he will have a role on this team. If he shoots 33.8% from three like he did last season, he will not last very long in Houston. Close to the trade deadline, the Rockets will look to find a long-term solution at point guard, and to acquire that player, Sheppard will be the most likely name to be moved.