HOUSTON, TEXAS – APRIL 20: Alperen Sengun #28 and Jabari Smith Jr. #10 of the Houston Rockets celebrate a basket against the Golden State Warriors during the fourth quarter in Game One of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center on April 20, 2025 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
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The Rockets suffered a crippling blow to their title hopes this season when they lost starting point guard Fred VanVleet to a torn ACL in late September; VanVleet may miss the entirety of the 2025-2026 season. The news fueled speculation that the team would look to the trade market for a replacement to the veteran point guard. Houston acquired superstar forward Kevin Durant in a blockbuster trade from Phoenix earlier this summer, raising expectations for the season to a level not seen since the departure of James Harden.
But if preseason play thus far is any indication, the Rockets may be more likely to hold firm on their roster and weather the storm until VanVleet’s return next season. Head coach Ime Udoka started both games thus far with third year wing Amen Thompson and sophomore guard Reed Sheppard in the backcourt, sharing ball-handling duties. But the majority of the offense was funneled through All-Star center Alperen Sengun. Against Utah on Wednesday, Sengun delivered a masterpiece, racking up 13 assists in just 27 minutes (to go along with 13 points on 5/8 shooting from the floor), setting up his teammates repeatedly for open looks.
Sengun’s full passing repertoire was on display. On one instance, he found backup center Clint Capela at the basket for a lob dunk,. On another, off of a post-up, he hit Thompson cutting inside for a dunk. He set up Durant beautifully too, once for an open three off of a kickout and another time, driving to the basket off of a dribble handoff. The synergy between Sengun, Durant, and Thompson was a glimpse of the potency of that trio, particularly as the three players become more accustomed to playing with one another.
On Wednesday, Sheppard scored 11 points on 4/7 shooting, handing out three assists. He was particularly active in the third quarter, aggressively attacking the basket. The continued development of Sheppard will be a focus of the team this season; Udoka mentioned on media day that the sophomore guard had had a strong summer, particularly with respect to strength and conditioning. The Rockets surely hope that Sheppard is able to play well enough to hold on to the starting position.
The Rockets are currently $1.255 million beneath the first apron, meaning it would be difficult to make any transactions given the constraints built into the collective bargaining agreement. VanVleet, who signed a two-year, $50 million contract this summer, prior to his injury, cannot be traded until December 15, 2025.
If Wednesday serves as any evidence, the Rockets may be content to play things out with what they have.