The Houston Rockets suffered an enormous blow to their title hopes after Fred VanVleet tore his ACL which might have him miss your entire 2025-26 NBA season.
The Rockets have been positioned to be one of many high groups within the Western Convention after buying and selling for Kevin Durant and assembling a powerful roster round him.
Nevertheless, now the Rockets have an enormous gap at their lead guard place and so they haven’t any cap house to switch VanVleet with a free agent signing.
With VanVleet out with a torn ACL, the Rockets are going to want a few of their youthful guards to step up.
One participant who’s now anticipated to have an elevated function on the lead guard place is third-year participant Amen Thompson.
Not solely is he going to need to defend the opposing group’s high perimeter participant, however Thompson may also be tasked with producing extra offensively and creating scoring alternatives as a main ballhandler.
Thompson did common a career-high 3.8 assists final 12 months and does have expertise enjoying level guard.
Thompson informed Sports activities Illustrated’s senior author Chris Mannix that he spent his summer season engaged on being a greater lead guard.
Reed Sheppard is one other guard who must step up within the absence of VanVleet.
Sheppard entered the 2025-26 season with no outlined function due to Houston’s depth, however now he’ll get an enormous alternative. The No. 3 general decide of the 2024 NBA Draft might probably develop into the Rockets’ new start line guard
Sheppard didn’t see a lot enjoying time final season, averaging simply 4.4 factors and 1.4 assists throughout 12.6 minutes in 52 video games. However now, he may have an even bigger accountability.
Even when the Rockets don’t begin him and as an alternative have Thompson as their lead guard, Sheppard will nonetheless get quite a lot of minutes because the backup level guard.
Marc Spears was on NBA At this time and he talked about this chance for Sheppard.
“I’m enthusiastic about Reed Sheppard.
“He didn’t count on this chance. Individuals are very, very excessive on him, he’s going to need to get a chance.”
Shedding VanVleet is actually going to be a gut-wrenching hit to the Rockets, however they’ve two younger guards who can take advantage of out of this chance.
