The Houston Rockets are looking ahead to the 2025-26 NBA season and wasted no time making some big changes. It started with them sending Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, and five second-round picks to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Kevin Durant.
They added one of the best scorers in league history to an already young and talented team. Free agency is set to open up on July 30th at 5 p.m. CT, and the Rockets can add more talent then.
Before we can even get there, ESPN's Shams Charania reported that guard Fred VanVleet plans to sign a two-year, $50 million deal to stay in Houston. That contract includes a player option for a 2026-27 season. Both sides were able to agree to a new deal after Houston declined VanVleet's $44.9 million team option for the 2025-26 season.
Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet intends to sign a two-year, $50 million contract to stay with the franchise, with a player option in 2026-27, sources tell ESPN. Rockets are declining VanVleet's $44.9 million team option and land the new deal with Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul. pic.twitter.com/rwtEUptBQT
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 25, 2025
Fred VanVleet Re-Signs With Rockets Ahead of Free Agency
This deal should be viewed as a massive win for the Rockets. Locking VanVleet down at $25 million a year is huge, considering he could have easily gotten $30 million plus on the open market. His $44.9 million option for the 2025-26 season was a big number, but it shows what he could be capable of landing as a free agent.
The 31-year-old is an All-Star (2022) and NBA Champion (2019). Houston has a nice collection of veterans with VanVleet, Durant, Jeff Green, and Steven Adams to surround all the young talent on the team.
In two seasons with the Rockets, he's averaged 15.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 6.9 assists while shooting 36% from beyond the arc. This postseason against the Golden State Warriors, he logged 18.7 points per game, knocking down 3.9 3-pointers per game.
He has the ability to create his own shot, space the floor, and playmake at the same time. The addition of Durant made it easier to convince him to come back at this number before even hitting the open market.
That's a massive win for the Rockets' backcourt and shows what they are building in H-Town.