The Rockets have enough talent on paper to dream big for the 2026-27 season, and that alone is enough to keep Kyrie Irving in the conversation. Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson all have All-Star upside, Fred VanVleet is expected back from an ACL injury, and Reed Sheppard keeps moving toward a larger role.
That mix gives Houston real reason to chase a breakthrough after finishing 52-30 last season. The obstacle, of course, is that the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder still sit at the top of the Western Conference pecking order. If the Rockets decide they need another jolt, a major trade could be coming.
Irving has already emerged as a name to watch. CBS Sports’ Sam Quinn expects that buzz to stick around, pointing to the needs of both teams.
“VanVleet and Sheppard for Irving is going to be one of the more common fake trades of the season, and it really makes sense given how badly Dallas needs a young guard who can shoot.”
Dallas appears to be shaping its future around 2026 Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg, which makes the 34-year-old Irving feel like a shaky fit for the long haul there. For Houston, though, he would bring the kind of high-end scoring punch that could matter in a deeper postseason run.
VanVleet is still projected to be a meaningful rotation piece when he comes back, but at 32 and nearly five years removed from his last All-Star nod, his production is no longer in the same category as Irving’s ceiling. He averaged 14.1 points per game, and while his veteran presence matters, Irving has repeatedly shown a bigger measurable impact.
Sheppard is the real swing piece. In 82 games last season, he posted 13.5 points, 3.4 assists and 1.5 steals, and his top-10 finish in Sixth Man of the Year voting in his sophomore year points to a player ready for a larger workload. At the same time, Houston may be hesitant to move him because of how important he could become to the young core.
Even so, the logjam in the backcourt could work against him. With so many guards competing for minutes, Rockets coach Ime Udoka may struggle to carve out enough playing time to keep Sheppard’s development on the cleanest track.
If Houston ever does put together a serious offer for Irving, Durant, Sengun and Thompson would have to stay out of it. VanVleet looks like the most realistic centerpiece of any deal, while Sheppard’s status would likely depend on how Irving’s return looks in the coming weeks.
In Other News...
Reggie Miller Sees A Rockets Threat The West Can't Ignore
Across the Western Conference, the arms race has already started, with teams loading up in hopes of keeping pace with the leagues established powers. Minnesota, the Lakers and Denver have all made eye-catching additions, but Houston is drawing its own attention because of the way its roster has been built and the way the conversation around it has shifted heading into the new season.
Reggie Miller, looking at the Rockets young core, sees a group that is getting harder to dismiss. He pointed to Fred VanVleet returning healthy and Marcus Smart as the kinds of additions that change Houstons outlook, and his broader message was simple enough for the rest of the West to hear: this is a team that could make things uncomfortable. The Rockets open their 2026-27 season against the Mavericks on October 21, and it already feels like a night that will tell part of the story. [Read more 🡒]
Marcus Smart Already Brings Something Rockets Fans Will Notice Fast
Marcus Smarts first preseason minutes in Houston gave Rockets fans an early glimpse of why the organization wanted him around. In a 116-89 win over the Thunder, the veteran guard came off the bench and made his presence felt defensively, finishing with two rebounds, two assists and a steal in 12 minutes while settling into what should be a key reserve role for a team looking to lean on toughness on that end of the floor.
The shot will come later, and Houston can live with that if Smart is doing the dirty work that has made him valuable throughout his career. The Rockets signed him to a two-year deal and clearly expect his grit, pressure and experience to help shape second-unit minutes, which is the kind of immediate imprint that tends to stand out quickly in the preseason even before the offense catches up. [Read more 🡒]
Kevin Durant Gives The Rockets A Real Chance To Change Everything
Kevin Durant arrives in Houston with the kind of scoring resume that changes the conversation before the season even tips off. One of the most gifted shot makers the league has ever seen, Durant still gives the Rockets a true offensive centerpiece, and his presence immediately raises the ceiling for a club trying to climb back into serious contention. Even with his age and mileage, the draw remains the same: when the game tightens, he can create points in ways almost nobody else can.
The Rockets also have tried to give him a better fit around the edges, leaning into defense and athleticism to make sure his scoring is part of a bigger formula. Durants job, at least on paper, should stay familiar - carry the offense, bend defenses and make life easier for everyone else. The open question is whether the rest of the roster can finally supply enough support to turn all that production into the kind of playoff run that has so often slipped away. [Read more 🡒]