Fred VanVleet's future with the Rockets likely isn't what fans are expecting

Trading Fred VanVleet would be the silliest thing the Houston Rockets could do in the next two months. Yes, Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard have emerged as a good point guard combination and yes, the Rockets look great without VanVleet in the lineup. But right now, I have to assume VanVleet's trade value is lower than it ever has been, and I also assume he'll happily pick up a $25 million player option after the season ends, so... Why get greedy?

We know what FVV provides to this team. He's a steadying force, an unselfish presence who knows exactly what's needed of him, and a phenomenal teammate. Shipping him off because he won't be playing this year won't earn the front office any goodwill with the fanbase.

Plus, assuming any player they get back in a deal would be on an expiring contract, I'm confident in saying that a half-season of whomever that is will not be as impactful as one full season of VanVleet next year.

Fred VanVleet is an important part of this Rockets team

And in the meantime, seeing what Thompson and Sheppard can do in the playoffs is not a bad plan. The worst case scenario is the Rockets come up short with their makeshift backcourt, learn that, and get a fantastic reinforcement next year. Trading FVV, meanwhile, could be the ultimate worse-case scenario; the team still comes up short, we learn that Thompson and Sheppard need one more primary ball-handler to complete the backcourt, and then reinforcements don't come next year.

Is there anyone the Rockets could acquire in exchange for FVV who makes that risk worth it? I don't believe so. It would also be really dang sad for this team to trade Fred and for fans not to see him play with this new, contending version of the team.

When he went down with an injury, the consensus was that Houston no longer had enough playmaking to compete with the elite NBA teams. That obviously hasn't been the case, but it does still feel like this team is playing with house money right now, with their starting point guard waiting in the wings for next season. That's a big deal. Don't ruin it!