Fred VanVleet could hand Rockets unexpected solution to depth problem

Fred VanVleet, Houston’s starting point guard, missed the entire season with a knee injury. The former All-Star still controls a $25 million player option for next season, but rumors have been swirling that he and the Rockets have discussed reworking that number into a longer deal.

In that potential scenario, VanVleet would opt out of his $25 million player option and re-sign on a multi-year contract with less annual money. That may seem like a minor move, but it could give the Rockets real flexibility to add a bench shooter or backup point guard if they use the potential savings properly.

VanVleet could help Houston’s depth

Houston likely needs a bigger move to become a true contender. However, its depth also needs work if the Rockets are going to keep pace with the Spurs, Thunder and the rest of the loaded Western Conference. Restructuring VanVleet’s deal could help with that.

If VanVleet opts out and signs a two-year, $40 million contract or a three-year, $45 million contract, that would create $5 million to $10 million in savings for Houston to use elsewhere on the roster.

Sandro Mamukelashvili, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Sam Merrill were all signed to contracts at or below that range last offseason. They are also all bench sharpshooters who helped playoff teams.

There is risk to signing VanVleet to a multi-year deal

The potential drawback is VanVleet’s injury recovery. If he is not able to have the same burst he had before tearing his ACL, then signing him to a longer-term contract could hurt the team.

However, a new contract would likely only be a two- or three-year deal, and it would come at a cheaper annual number than his current $25 million option. If VanVleet cannot fully recover and eventually turns into more of a bench-level player, that would not be backbreaking for Houston. That is especially true because VanVleet is widely considered one of the league’s premier locker room presences.

Ultimately, this would not be the defining roster move of Houston’s offseason. The Rockets still need to make a major addition if they want to build a championship-level team around Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson and the rest of their young core.

But contenders are not built only through blockbuster trades and signings. If VanVleet and the Rockets can find a number that works for both sides, it could become the kind of transaction that helps Houston take another step toward becoming a true contender.

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