Fred VanVleet’s return changes the entire shape of Houston’s backcourt, and it puts Reed Sheppard in a much cleaner spot heading into next season.
After missing all of the previous season with a torn ACL, VanVleet is expected to be back at the start of the year. That matters because the Rockets spent last season trying to survive without a true floor general. Sheppard and Amen Thompson both handled the job in stretches, but neither came in as a natural point guard, and both were learning on the fly.
Now Houston has more options after adding Marcus Smart in free agency, but the most important piece of the puzzle is still VanVleet. He’s expected to open the season as the starting point guard, bringing leadership, championship experience, and the kind of steady decision-making a team with title aspirations wants running the show.
That setup points Sheppard toward the backup two-guard spot, and that may be exactly where he belongs. Instead of being asked to steer the offense full-time, he can settle into his natural position and lean into what he does best.
Sheppard has already shown he can be one of Houston’s better perimeter shooters, and that kind of floor spacing plays beautifully next to Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun, and Amen Thompson. He’s comfortable as a catch-and-shoot threat, and that gives the Rockets a cleaner offensive structure around their stars.
There’s more to his game than the jumper, too. Sheppard has a high basketball IQ, doesn’t force the action, moves the ball quickly, and makes smart reads within the flow of the offense.
For Houston’s second unit, that’s a valuable profile. He doesn’t need to dominate the ball; he can keep the spacing right, stay active without it, and punish defenses that load up on the Rockets’ main scorers.
The fit with VanVleet works offensively, but only in the right lineups. Both guards can stretch the floor, both can make the right pass, and VanVleet can stay in the lead-guard role while Sheppard works off the ball.
Sheppard shot nearly 39 percent from three-point range, so defenses can’t ignore him, and they can’t ignore VanVleet either. That kind of dual shooting should help Houston play faster without losing control of the ball.
The concern is on the other end. Sheppard is only 6’2, and VanVleet is only 6 feet tall, so that backcourt can get small against bigger guards and physical wings. Houston can cover for that, though, because the roster has plenty of size and defensive talent around them.
Amen Thompson is already one of the NBA’s premier perimeter defenders and can take the toughest assignment no matter the position. Jabari Smith Jr. brings length and defensive versatility, and Tari Eason adds another switchable defender who can handle multiple spots. With that kind of support, the Rockets can lean into the offensive upside of VanVleet and Sheppard without giving too much back defensively.
In Other News...
Amen Thompson Could Force A Massive Rockets Decision Soon
Amen Thompsons rise has already changed the way Houston has to think about its future, and this offseason could bring the next big test. He is eligible for a rookie extension and the Rockets are expected to treat him like a core piece, with the front office viewed as highly interested in putting real money behind the belief that his two-way impact is only going to grow. For a team trying to build around young talent, Thompson has become the kind of player you do not casually let drift toward uncertainty.
Houstons stance also says plenty about where it sees itself right now. The Rockets have no interest in moving Thompson, even with his name having surfaced in trade chatter around bigger star pursuits, and the organization appears intent on making a long-term commitment before that conversation gets any louder. The only question left is how aggressive the deal gets, because a major extension would signal just how far Houston is willing to go to keep one of its most important young players in place. [Read more 🡒]
Summer League Already Has Rockets Fans Watching One Rookie Closely
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Among the notable performances so far, one of the top draft picks flashed a little of everything in a win over Brooklyn, while another lottery selection showed up with a strong defensive line. There was also a Houston tie in the early slate, a reminder that Summer League can move quickly from curiosity to conversation, even before the bigger names in the class have fully settled in. [Read more 🡒]
Marcus Smart Puts Rockets Fans Right Back In Familiar Territory
Marcus Smarts arrival sends the Rockets straight back into a familiar lane, the one where defense, edge and veteran know-how matter as much as scoring punch. Houston added the former Defensive Player of the Year on a two-year deal with a player option for the second season, a move that fits the teams recent push to keep tightening the roster around Ime Udokas preferred identity.
What makes the signing interesting is not just Smarts reputation, but how Houston chooses to use him. He could slide into a reserve role with real leverage or become a steadying voice for a young locker room, and the Rockets will have to balance that upside against the reality that his availability has been an issue in recent seasons. For a team still sorting out its next step, Smart is the kind of addition that can look obvious in July and complicated by February. [Read more 🡒]