Rockets start Kevin Durant era with a bang in first major move since trade

According to Shams Charania of ESPN, the Houston Rockets just signed Fred VanVleet to a two-year, $50 million extension, ensuring that they will have a championship-caliber roster around Kevin Durant as they look to compete next season. VanVleet, who had a team option for $44.9 million, will now be back in Houston on a much cheaper contract, ready to help them make a push.

VanVleet was essential to the Rockets’ success this past season, helping them reach the playoffs for the first time since the James Harden era. Bringing him back on a deal of this nature is absolutely perfect, considering the value he brought to Houston last season.

Now, they just have to figure out the rest of the roster.

How will Fred VanVleet help Kevin Durant’s Rockets?

First and foremost, VanVleet is the point guard of this team. He was last year, and he will be with Durant in town. In fact, VanVleet’s presence will be even more important this year, as the Rockets lost Jalen Green, one of their other primary ball-handlers, in the Durant trade.

VanVleet is also the only high-volume three-point shooter on the Rockets (at least, he was before the Durant trade). He attempted 7.7 threes per game last year, which was second to Green (8.1 3PA). Dillon Brooks, who was also shipped out in the Durant deal, was third at 6.3 per game. Nobody else on the roster attempted more than five.

His 5.6 assists per game also led the Rockets last season, with Alperen Sengun clocking in at second place with 4.9 per game.

Re-signing VanVleet as the veteran point guard ensures that the Rockets’ offense will still have one of its leaders during the Durant era. But on top of that, it maintains the team defensive integrity, as VanVleet’s peskiness on that end of the floor fits in with the core ideals of what Houston hopes to accomplish defensively.

At the time the Rockets signed VanVleet to a contract a few years back, it was seen as a massive overpay. But it worked out beautifully, and now, his new contract is an absolute steal.

What will Rockets lineup look like with VanVleet?

Theoretically, the Rockets have now solidified their starting lineup heading into next season. They can roll out VanVleet at the one, Amen Thompson at the two, Durant at the three, one of Tari Eason or Jabari Smith Jr. at the four, and Sengun at the five.

That should be more than enough to give them a chance to compete in the Western Conference.