Tracy McGrady and Vince Carter both landed on the Houston Rockets when asked which team could be the next surprise to crash the NBA Finals conversation.
McGrady had to sort through the Cavaliers, Rockets, Heat, and Lakers before choosing Houston, and he pointed straight to the return of Fred VanVleet as a major reason for his pick.
“I’m gonna say the Rockets,” said Tracy McGrady. “We got Fred [VanVleet] back, that is the missing piece for them to give them some organization on the basketball court in close games.
Not only can he organize everything, but he is also a bucket-getter. And then you have KD, who can still get you 25 points a night.”
That answer makes sense coming from McGrady, who spent six years with the Rockets. Still, the VanVleet point carries weight.
Houston missed his presence last season, especially with the team forced to use a mix of Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard at his spot. Without a true point guard to steady things, the Rockets fell in the first round against a depleted Lakers team.
Carter backed up McGrady’s view and said VanVleet’s return changes the whole shape of the roster.
“Rockets is where I’m gonna go as well,” said Carter. “I think Fred VanVleet is not only a clutch player in his own right, but he is a facilitator, and he is a veteran who has been around and understands what needs to be done. I think that unlocks the Kevin Durant we all know and love and want to see on that big stage.”
VanVleet’s career line - 14.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 1.4 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game - doesn’t scream superstar, but Houston clearly felt his absence. Now the Rockets can finally put a real organizer at the point, and they also have Marcus Smart available to bring energy at both ends. Add in Bogdan Bogdanovic, and the rotation starts to look a lot sturdier than it did a year ago.
The biggest swing factor, though, is Durant. He posted 26.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.9 blocks per game last season, and that kind of production gives Houston a real chance. Pair him with Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson, and the Rockets have the pieces to push for a top-six finish.
That’s why, even with the Lakers, Heat, and Cavaliers making summer additions of their own, Houston is drawing the buzz here. The Rockets may not have the loudest offseason headline, but they do have the kind of depth, chemistry, and experience that can matter most when the Western Conference gets crowded with teams like the Thunder, Spurs, and Timberwolves.
In Other News...
Lakers Lost Out On Jonathan Kuminga For A Reason Fans Will Notice
Jonathan Kumingas free-agency saga finally settled this week, with the former Warriors forward agreeing to a one-year deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves after weeks of back-and-forth that also drew in the Lakers and Chicago. For Los Angeles, the miss is a familiar kind of reminder that these decisions are rarely just about name recognition or cap space. Some players are looking first at fit, role and whether the organization feels aligned with what they want next.
Aaron Turner, Kumingas agent, said his client put the playing situation and organizational alignment ahead of contract length and money, which helps explain why the process unfolded the way it did. It also sheds light on why the Lakers were never quite enough on their own, even with their usual pull in these conversations. The larger surprise may be what happened before all of this, with Golden State never making a real push to keep Kuminga before moving on from him. [Read more 🡒]
Cavs Missed On Jonathan Kuminga For A Reason Fans Will Debate
Jonathan Kumingas next stop came together with a little less drama than many around the league expected, even with the Lakers looming as a possible landing spot. Instead, the forward agreed to a two-year, $13 million deal with the Timberwolves, a contract that includes a player option, according to his agent Aaron Turner. For a player whose market had been watched closely, the choice says plenty about how he is trying to map out his career at this stage.
Minnesota clearly sold him on opportunity, and Kuminga reportedly believed it was the best basketball situation for him. The Timberwolves are planning to start him alongside Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball, Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert, which gives him a chance to fit into a lineup with real talent around him right away. For teams like the Lakers, it is another reminder that name value does not always win out when a player is weighing role, fit and the path he sees in front of him. [Read more 🡒]
Lakers Still Have A Roster Problem Cavaliers Helped Create
The Lakers spent part of the offseason looking at Jonathan Kuminga as a possible answer at power forward, a spot they have been trying to stabilize around their core. Instead, Kuminga has agreed to a two-year, $13 million deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves, including a player option, according to his agent, leaving Los Angeles to keep searching for the kind of frontcourt fit it had hoped to land.
Kyle Kuzma is among the names the Lakers may now have to weigh if they decide to go the trade route, and he would fit the broader conversation about adding size and scoring on the wing. The bigger issue is the same one that has lingered for weeks, with Los Angeles still trying to solve a roster gap that another teams move helped expose, and the options to fix it looking thinner by the day. [Read more 🡒]