Rockets finally find their Fred VanVleet replacement with Bruce Thornton

The Houston Rockets are guilty of often misappropriating funds in their recent push for contention, and the big contract handed out to point guard Fred VanVleet appears to be perhaps the biggest mistake Rafael Stone has made in recent years. Even without a first-round pick, Houston was able to pick a player who can help them be a bit more competitive.

After trading with the New York Knicks to acquire pick No. 31, Houston kicked off the second round by selecting Ohio State point guard Bruce Thornton. With a terrific jumper, versatility, and unparalleled leadership skills in this class, everything that attracted Houston to Thornton is what attracted them to VanVleet on the open market.

The Rockets won't be counting on Thornton alone to solve their point guard troubles, but they clearly believe that he can be a big part of the solution. The fewer VanVleet minutes Houston will ned to lean on the 2026 season, the better for the offensive attack as a whole.

Bruce Thornton could help Rockets replace Fred VanVleet at point guard

VanVleet not only missed the entire 2025 season with an injury, but he was averaging just 14.1 points per game on below 38% from the field. A smaller guard who will turn 33 years old in the middle of next season, VanVleet is very clearly on the back-nine of his pro career. Thornton can take advantage.

While the Rockets will clearly give Reed Sheppard a chance to prove he can handle an enhanced role, and Amen Thompson will be a part of the ball-handling picture, Thornton is a true point guard who, like VanVleet, can play much bigger than his size. If he weren't a senior, he would have been a lock for the first round.

Thornton, who just became the leading scorer in Buckeyes history, averaged 19.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game in his final season in Columbus. Thornton mirrors VanVleet in a way, as the 6-2 guard rebounds and scores at a level that belies his size. Very few second-rounders are immediately rotation players, but Thornton could be an exception.

The Rockets need to place a premium on getting younger and developing an offensive philosophy more advanced than letting Kevin Durant cook people. Thornton represents a positive step in the right direction on that end, especially when cutting VanVleet out of the picture may represent major addition by subtraction.

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