Rockets need to plan for life without Fred VanVleet (and there's only one way)

As the Houston Rockets get ready for next season, giving Reed Sheppard a ton of minutes should be a top priority as they get ready to plan for life beyond Fred VanVleet. The veteran guard isn’t going anywhere (based on recent rumors), but he’s not getting any younger.

In his rookie season, Sheppard only got in 52 games, playing 12.6 minutes. The Rockets selected Sheppard with the third overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, but he didn’t have a regular rotation spot under Ime Udoka, instead getting relegated to the G League (or the bench) for long stretches of the year.

That could go a long way for the Rockets.

Why should the Rockets give Reed Sheppard more minutes?

Sheppard was the third pick in the draft for a reason. He’s an elite three-point shooter, a great ball-handler, and an underrated defender, especially for his size. The Kentucky product showed some serious flashes of potential in the G League this season, but he didn’t really get the chance to show it off at the NBA level. At least not consistently.

Obviously, the Rockets have no plans of tanking anytime soon. Quite the opposite, actually. Because of that, giving young players developmental minutes may seem a bit backwards. But that’s not the case with Sheppard.

The Western Conference isn’t going to get any easier as time goes on. If anything, it’s shaping up to become even more competitive. Developing Sheppard into the long-term solution at guard would be perfect for the Rockets, as his shooting would fit perfectly next to the likes of Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun, neither of whom space the floor well.

Though Sheppard may not be amazing at first, giving him more minutes next season will go a long way to his long-term development as a part of this Houston core.

Where does that leave Fred VanVleet?

The Rockets have a $44.9 million team option for VanVleet that they will have to make a decision on soon. Though they may not pick it up, Kelly Iko of The Athletic recently reported that they want to keep him around.

“The NBA champion has expressed his desire to stay, citing a stable team environment,” Iko wrote. “Because of this, the Rockets, who have a good working relationship with VanVleet’s representatives (Rich Paul and Andy Miller), envision him in their immediate future.”

But the keyword there is “immediate.” VanVleet is a perfect fit with how the Rockets play, but he’s 31 years old and won’t be around forever. With how young the rest of their core is, Sheppard should be the long-term solution.

That’s why he needs more minutes as soon as possible, starting with next season.