In a fierce match where the Rockets secured their third victory against the Grizzlies this season, all eyes were on Jalen Green, who scored 42 points, and Amen Thompson, who contributed 19 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 5 blocks. These two young players, both in their early twenties, have accelerated the countdown for veteran Fred VanVleet's departure with their outstanding performances.
Initially, the Rockets signed VanVleet to a three-year, 112millioncontractfromthefree−agentmarkettomentortheiryoungplayers.This40 million average annual salary was more akin to a "training fee." However, no one anticipated how quickly the Rockets' rebuilding process would progress.
At the beginning, VanVleet and the Rockets management might have considered renewing his contract after its expiration with a slightly lower average salary but longer term, allowing VanVleet to continue guiding the team. This was because shortly after signing, the Rockets' promising point guard, Kevin Porter Jr., was removed from the team due to self-sabotage.
In such circumstances, even if the team wanted to find a future successor, there was no suitable candidate. At that time, Green, who had been honed for two years, had proven to everyone that he was a pure shooting guard, not a combo guard. Subsequently, the Rockets' management demonstrated their response by choosing high draft picks in the 23rd and 24th consecutive drafts to secure backcourt point guard players.
No one expected that Amen Thompson, drafted in 2023, would grow into the best all-around player for the Rockets in just one season. Standing at 2.01 meters tall, with excellent bounce speed, jumping ability, explosive power, and speed, Amen has become Coach Udoka's most trusted player. In the last four starting games, Amen played over 40 minutes in three of them.
In terms of both ability and talent, Amen has already surpassed VanVleet, suggesting that VanVleet should soon give up his starting position at point guard to Amen. Moreover, the Rockets currently have a third overall pick from the 2024 draft waiting on the bench, who recently scored 49 points in the G League.
Looking at VanVleet himself, his tactical importance in the team has significantly decreased this season. If the Rockets once needed VanVleet, it was because Udoka always liked using him and Shen Jing's pick-and-roll to open up the offense. Now that Jalen Green has matured, Udoka is increasingly opting to let Green handle the ball and Shen Jing set screens higher up, creating richer offensive opportunities. In the recent game against the Grizzlies, although VanVleet was on the court in the final stages, Udoka insisted on ending the game with a 2-5 pick-and-roll, which proved effective.
VanVleet's personal performance this season does not justify his $40 million salary. Currently averaging 15 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 6 assists, his shooting percentage is only 38.6%, and his three-point shooting percentage is as low as 32.5%. In the last six games, half of his scores were in single digits, and in five games, his shooting percentage did not exceed 50%. According to league statistics, VanVleet is among the four players with the lowest shooting percentages in key moments this season.
Compared to the names mentioned in recent trade rumors—Adams, Tate, Landale, Whitmore, and Dillon—VanVleet's position at point guard may be the most in need of an upgrade. Many say VanVleet is a championship point guard, but during the championship run, he was merely a substitute, with Kyle Lowry being the main point guard for the Raptors. Therefore, if the Rockets want to make trades mid-season, VanVleet should be at the forefront of all players.
Even if VanVleet remains with the team at the end of this season, the Rockets will not offer him a long-term, high-salary contract. If he could accept a four-year contract with an average salary of 15million,theRocketsmightstillconsiderit.However,iftheaveragesalaryofthiscontractexceeds20 million, the management needs to consider whether such a league point guard with limited potential and mediocre abilities could truly lead the Rockets to the Finals. What do you think? Should the Rockets upgrade their point guard position and trade VanVleet at this stage? Feel free to leave your comments and discuss!