The Houston Rockets are back! After a hiatus of several years, the Rockets are, once again, one of the top contenders in the Western Conference. With the addition of Kevin Durant and mostly bringing back the same core from last season, Houston is beginning the 2025-26 season as a championship contender and as arguably the second-best team in the league behind the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The increased expectations are bound to increase pressure, though. The Rockets are no longer in developmental mode, and any player who isn't ready to contribute to winning will be in trouble.
Rockets G Reed Sheppard Must Perform Well to Avoid Getting Traded
The above sentiment is especially true for Reed Sheppard ahead of his second season in the NBA. The former third-overall pick didn't get much playing time as a rookie and struggled in the limited minutes he got. Rockets fans were hoping for more minutes for the former Kentucky star, especially as the team failed to generate good shots and hit open looks on the offensive end.
When all was said and done, Sheppard averaged 4.4 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 0.7 steals while shooting 35.1% from the field and 33.8% from deep on 12.6 minutes per night across 52 games (3 starts).
With the departure of Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks, there is now ample opportunity in the Houston backcourt. Despite the addition of Durant, the Rockets are still low on creation and shooting. Sheppard could play a role there, especially in bench units.
If the ex-Kentucky product isn't showing clear signs of improvement early on, however, the Rockets will likely move on and find a replacement.
The Rockets showed that they are willing to move on from young players with upside when they traded Cam Whitmore to the Wizards last week. The team has more invested in Sheppard, for sure, but the championship window has shifted in Houston.
If Sheppard underperforms to start the season, the Rockets would be wise to move him before his trade value tanks. Depending on the level of interest for the talented guard, general manager Rafael Stone should consider getting more veteran backcourt help in a potential Sheppard trade.