Rockets may be forced to test Fred VanVleet's commitment with painful request

As the Houston Rockets enter the 2025-26 NBA season, their offseason acquisition of superstar Kevin Durant clearly indicates that their sights are set one one singular goal: bringing a championship back to H-Town for the first time since 1995.

Yet, the offseason ACL tear that starting point guard Fred VanVleet sustained has the potential to destroy these hopes, and, now, the team is put in the painful position of perhaps needing VanVleet to waive his no-trade clause in order to put together a contending roster.

As it stands, Houston has almost not players available to trade until December 15 as a result of restrictions stemming from their offseason acquisitions, and, if their internal solutions do not work out at point guard, VanVleet's $25 million salary could sadly become their most valuable trade piece.

Rockets could need to ask VanVleet to waive his no-trade clause

Without a doubt, VanVleet's impact on Houston over the past couple of seasons far exceeds what the stat sheet might indicate. Last season, through 60 games, VanVleet averaged 14.1 points, 3.7 rebounds and 5.6 assists, shooting 34.5% from 3-point range.

Yet, his veteran experience and turnover-resistant playmaking abilties helped give Houston any semblance of a half-court offense last season, and, with the addition of Durant, his skills were only going to become more vital this season in helping the team's offense reach its ceiling.

Now, however, with his injury, the team is left with youngsters Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard as their options at point guard, neither of which have proven yet that they can take on that offensive workload.

As a result of their being hard-capped at the first apron, they are unable to sign another player to the roster, and any player they would be willing to trade (including VanVleet, Steven Adams, Aaron Holiday and Clint Capela) cannot be moved until December 15 as a result of their extensions or signings this offseason.

While Adams and Capela could both present valuable trade pieces, VanVleet is on a two-year deal with a player option, meaning that he essentially would represent expiring salary in any sort of move for a starting-caliber point guard.

This also means, however, that he has an implied no-trade clause he would need to waive in order for any deal to be constructed.

While it could be exceedingly painful, and thus is probably far out of the minds of the Rockets' front office as of now, asking him to waive this no-trade clause could be the only way for the team to salvage this season if things go south with Thompson and Sheppard.