Kevin Durant came to Houston with one goal in mind: chase another championship. But when Fred VanVleet tore his ACL in the offseason, that vision took a serious hit.
The Rockets had built their roster with a deep frontcourt and a clear expectation that VanVleet would be the engine driving the offense. Losing him meant losing their most reliable playmaker-and that’s not the kind of blow you easily recover from.
Yet somehow, Houston has stayed afloat. And a big reason why is the emergence of two young guards: Reed Sheppard and Amen Thompson.
Both have taken major steps forward as ball-handlers and decision-makers, showing maturity beyond their years. Sheppard in particular has impressed with his poise and shot-making, but let’s not forget-he’s only in his second season.
Asking him to steer a team through the gauntlet that is the Western Conference playoffs might be too much, too soon.
That’s where the Rockets’ timeline starts to get complicated. Durant is still one of the league’s most dangerous scorers, but at this stage in his career, the window isn’t wide open-it’s cracked. Houston can’t afford to wait around for their young guards to fully develop if they want to maximize what Durant still has left in the tank.
So if the Rockets want to go all-in, there’s a potential opportunity brewing in Cleveland.
The Cavaliers, fresh off a 64-win season in 2024-25, have come back to earth this year. Donovan Mitchell has been electric, but the rest of the roster hasn’t quite kept pace. Evan Mobley hasn’t made the offensive leap many expected, and the team’s 15-12 start-punctuated by a scoreless overtime against Charlotte-has raised some eyebrows.
That brings Darius Garland into focus. Garland is coming off an All-Star caliber season where he averaged 20.6 points and 6.7 assists.
When healthy, he’s a dynamic guard with elite-level vision and scoring ability. The catch?
He’s never truly had a team built around his strengths. In Cleveland, he’s often been the second or third option, deferring to Mitchell or working within a system that doesn’t fully unlock his game.
In Houston, he could be the guy. The primary playmaker. The missing piece.
A deal centered around VanVleet, Dorian Finney-Smith, and the rights to the Brooklyn Nets’ 2027 first-round pick swap could be enough to get Cleveland’s attention. It’s not a fire sale offer, but it’s a respectable package for a team that might be thinking about reshaping its core without bottoming out.
For the Rockets, Garland would bring the shot creation and offensive control they’ve been missing since VanVleet went down. Pairing him with Durant, along with the athleticism and defensive versatility of their frontcourt, could vault Houston into legitimate contender status.
For the Cavaliers, it’s a chance to recalibrate. Maybe not a rebuild, but a retool.
They’ve got a deep roster of wings, a franchise big in Mobley, and a superstar in Mitchell. Moving Garland could open up new combinations and new possibilities-especially if they’re not convinced this current group can take the next step.
Bottom line: Houston’s window is now, and Garland could be the key to unlocking it. The question is whether Cleveland is ready to listen.