The Houston Rockets face a significant decision this offseason, holding a $44.9 million team option on Fred VanVleet’s contract for the 2025/26 season. However, the veteran guard’s underwhelming performance in Houston’s first-round playoff series against Golden State may give the front office reason to hesitate.
As noted by Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle, VanVleet has struggled mightily through the first three games, shooting just 26.8% from the field (11-of-41) and 20.7% from three-point range (6-of-29). He’s averaged 11.3 points and four assists in 41 minutes per game – far below expectations given his role and salary.
Acknowledging his struggles, VanVleet didn’t shy away from accountability ahead of Game 4, saying: “There’s times and places where I have to play better, I have to make shots at a higher clip. I have to find rhythm and find ways to be more aggressive. But obviously, if I’m getting two on the ball at 28, 30 feet, I feel like I’ve done my job for that possession. If I can draw a mismatch and I can draw a best defender, there’s opportunity for other guys, I feel like I’ve done my job on that possession. So, it’s different ways to attack. I have to be better, 1,000%, and if I make two more shots we probably win Game 1. If I make a couple more (Saturday), we probably get out of here with a win, so that’s totally on me, for sure.”
VanVleet’s self-awareness is clear, but with such a large financial commitment on the line, the Rockets will need to weigh his postseason impact-or lack thereof-carefully when deciding whether to pick up that option.
Rockets Notes: VanVleet, Offense, Green, Sengun, Landale https://t.co/G4GiU5t4JV pic.twitter.com/DDtwdSlZbq
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) April 28, 2025
