Rockets rumor reveals wise priority fans should be happy to hear

The Houston Rockets will enter the 2025 offseason with a clear plan in mind: Bringing back Fred VanVleet for at least the 2025-26 season.

Few teams are facing a greater series of dilemmas than the Houston Rockets. Houston won 52 games with a core that's been largely been built around players who are years from realizing their full potential, as well as veterans who were hastily discarded by their former teams.

Taking the next step will require choices to be made and priorities to be revealed, however, including a final decision on how to properly value Fred VanVleet's hefty contract.

VanVleet signed a massive three-year, $128,539,845 contract with the Rockets in 2024. Outsiders viewed it as a colossal overpay, while Houston utilized it to help a roster flush with rookie-scale talent reach the salary floor. Two years later, a $44,886,930 club option has reignited the conversation.

According to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, the Rockets intend to bring VanVleet back to Houston for at least the 2025-26 season.

"There in theory remains an opening for teams to broach Houston about sign—and-trades for Fred VanVleet, but sources say that the Rockets have every intention of bringing back the veteran guard next season."

It remains unclear if Houston will accept the club option or work to re-sign VanVleet to a multi-year deal, but it's evident that the franchise wants to keep him in their uniform.

Rockets "have every intention" of keeping Fred VanVleet in Houston

VanVleet certainly made a strong case for himself when he outplayed Stephen Curry in multiple games of the Rockets' first-round series loss to the Golden State Warriors. That includes the three-straight 20-point games that he posted to help Houston force a Game 7.

While some might view it as a brief display of postseason excellence, VanVleet's performances acted as a vital reminder of what he brings to an otherwise young team.

VanVleet isn't just a veteran taking up minutes in a rotation flush with players who may exceed his current level of play and production as soon as next season. He's an NBA champion with 59 games of postseason experience, as well as a proven history of stepping up when the lights are shining brightest.

For a Rockets team that's generally made up of players who have only experienced the seven postseason games they saw in 2025, VanVleet's veteran presence has already proven essential.

It's admittedly challenging to wrap one's mind around the near $44.9 million that he could be making in 2024-25. That money could be spent on multiple players or perhaps even a star whose quality would exceed that of VanVleet.

Until the stars begin to align on a replacement who can actually exceed VanVleet's value, however, it's difficult to envision a scenario in which declining the club option would be the optimal path forward.

With VanVleet in the rotation, Reed Sheppard could be eased into a high-volume role that would ultimately lead to a starting opportunity. Furthermore, the Rockets would have a proven commodity once the postseason begins and the need experienced scoring options arises.

Compounded by the championship value that he's previously provided alongside star-caliber players, keeping VanVleet is a wise priority given Houston's potential superstar-driven activity.