Fred VanVleet's commitment to the Rockets is crystal clear after devastating injury

As the Houston Rockets attempt to cope with the loss of Fred VanVleet, the team is hoping to still manage their assets in such a way that they can continue on with their plans to contend for a championship this season. Yet, VanVleet's injury, and the resultant lack of a fully reliable playmaker on the roster, is absolutely devastating to these chances.

Nevertheless, the team can find some solace in the fact that VanVleet, according to recent social media posts, is committed to bringing a championship to Houston and recovering quickly from this injury.

While it is unlikely that he returns this season, VanVleet has a player option for next year, and, if he picks it up and the front office is able to extend Kevin Durant, they could enter next season with the same strength they were once expected to start this year with.

Fred VanVleet wants to win a championship in Houston

As the Rockets have built out and developed their young core, their free agent signing of VanVleet in 2023 may have been the most important move they have made. Although his production has taken a relative dip in recent years, the leadership and poise he has brought to a young, athletic group of players, along with the spacing he has helped provide through his ball-handling capabilities, have been paramount to the success the team has found so far.

Now, even after his injury, it appears as though VanVleet is fully committed to the organization's original mission:

Last season, through 60 games, VanVleet averaged 14.1 points, 3.7 rebounds and 5.6 assists, shooting 34.5% from 3-point range and helping keep the team's offense afloat as they worked through their struggles in the half-court.

While it remains to be seen whether the team will even entertain the idea of asking VanVleet to waive his no-trade clause in order to utilize his expiring salary to bring in a starting-caliber point guard this season, they also have the option of letting this season play out how it will with Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard at point guard.

This, undeniably, could work out rather poorly, as neither Thompson nor Sheppard has ever taken on that sort of offensive workload before in their short careers.

Yet, if the Rockets can use this season to continue to build up and develop their young players around Durant, they could, by signing Durant this offseason and holding on to VanVleet, give it another shot next season, which is obviously want VanVleet is hoping for as he recovers.