Just when Houston Rockets fans were getting excited about the upcoming NBA season, they were dealt a devastating blow on Monday. It was reported that starting point guard Fred VanVleet tore his ACL during an offseason workout and would likely miss the 2025-26 campaign. This has undoubtedly hurt the mood around Rockets fans, who had championship aspirations for their team next season.
To make matters worse, the Rockets are in a very difficult position in terms of replacing VanVleet. The two-way impact of the veteran point guard is already hard to find. Combine that with Houston's limited resources, because they are up against the first apron and only having six trade-eligible contracts on the roster, and the Rockets will likely have to begin the season with their current core.
Which begs the question: what will Houston's rotation look like for head coach Ime Udoka this fall? Let's try to make sense of it.
Rockets' Projected 2025-26 Depth Chart After Fred VanVleet's Injury
Starters
- Reed Sheppard
- Amen Thompson
- Kevin Durant
- Jabari Smith Jr.
- Alperen Sengun
VanVleet's injury certainly complicates matters in the backcourt. While the idea of starting Amen Thompson at point guard in a super-sized lineup and having him and Alperen Sengun handle all playmaking duties is appealing, it would likely leave the team too light on shooting. That is why starting Reed Sheppard alongside Thompson would give the Rockets additional spacing to help the rest of the team in the half-court offense.
Having Jabari Smith Jr. as the fifth starter for the same shooting reasons makes the most sense. However, we can expect a fluid starting five, with Sheppard and Smith both coming off the bench at times in favor of the following players.
Bench Rotation
- Tari Eason
- Aaron Holiday
- Dorian Finney-Smith
- Steven Adams
- Clint Capela
It's safe to assume that Aaron Holiday will be the first name Udoka will turn to if Sheppard struggles in his big role. The veteran guard can start and eat up minutes until the Rockets find a long-term solution at the trade deadline.
Tari Eason, Dorian Finney-Smith, Steven Adams, and Clint Capela will all be an important part of the rotation. Depending on the matchup, Udoka can start another center next to Sengun, or have Eason in the starting lineup over Smith if more defensive versatility is needed.
After VanVleet's injury, Finney-Smith is arguably the best three-and-D option the Rockets have, so he will see extended minutes regardless of the opponent. It wouldn't be surprising to see him crack the starting five at some point, either.
Emergency Backups
- Jae'Sean Tate
- Jeff Green
- Josh Okogie
When everyone is fully healthy, the Rockets will likely use a 10-man rotation. Yet, the NBA regular season is a grind, and everyone gets an opportunity at some point in the season. This includes the 11 through 13 on the Rockets' roster: Jae'Sean Tate, Jeff Green, and Josh Okogie. All three veterans are versatile players who can play multiple positions, making them perfect emergency backups.
If there is any injury in the backcourt, Okogie and Tate will likely be the first options Udoka will have off his bench. If Adams or Capela is sitting due to load management or minor injuries, we can see "Uncle Jeff" taking additional minutes as a stretch-five option.
Two-Way Players
- Kevon Harris
- JD Davison
- Isaiah Crawford
The Rockets are using two of their three two-way spots on backcourt players. JD Davison is a scoring point guard who can bring offensive juice when needed. Kevon Harris is a 28-year-old SG who can be a floor-spacing option, while Isaiah Crawford is an undersized forward whose calling card is his defense.
In the long season, the Rockets' two-way options will get their chances in limited spurts, and it will be up to them to make the most of it to earn a role and potentially land a guaranteed contract.