Rockets: Unexpected Path After Injury News?

By Mathieu Seguin | Sport editor

A hard blow strikes Houston as the new season approaches. Rockets will have to do without Fred Vanvleet, victim of a tear of the previous cross ligament during a minicamp. While the question of its replacement already animates the debates, some believe that the organization could finally adapt without immediately recruiting a high level leader.

Consultant NBA Tim Legler explained why Houston should not give in to panic. For him, the franchise already has enough game creators to compensate for the absence of Vanvleet. The example of Boston, crowned champion in 2024 by focusing on a collective carried by his wingers, serves as a reference to justify this more modern approach.

“Do you really need this traditional playmaker like Fred Vanvleet?” Look at Boston: With Jrue Holiday and Derrick White, neither was a pure leader. Their actions started mainly with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Maybe Houston can do the same with Alperen Sengun, Kevin Durant and Amen Thompson ”Legler explained in his podcast.

A reorganized attack around Sengun, Durant and Thompson

The idea defended by the analyst is based on the versatility of current executives. Sengun has already shown qualities of offensive facilitator, Kevin Durant can still create his own shots and involve his teammates, while Amen Thompson offers another form of creation. In this system, Reed Sheppard and Aaron Holiday could occupy a role of reliable shooters rather than primary ball carriers.

Vanvleet’s injury deprives an experienced and stabilizing player, but it could also speed up a tactical mutation. Instead of trying to reproduce its position for post, the franchise would focus on the circulation of the ball shared between its leaders. A strategy that, if it works, would make the team more unpredictable and difficult to defend.

The problem remains economical, however. With only $ 1.25 million under the first line of the APRON, the Rockets cannot freely sign a caliber replacement, nor ask for an exceptional disabled player. Only a trade operation would add an outside player, which considerably limits their short -term options.

Legler therefore thinks that Houston should test this configuration as soon as the season is opened. If the experience turns out to be conclusive, it would offer a new offensive dimension. On the other hand, a failure would no doubt push the front office to activate the transfer market to find a complementary leader.