The Rockets made headlines this summer with their blockbuster trade for Kevin Durant, a move that immediately shifted the balance of expectations in Houston.
Still, as Danielle Lerner of The Houston Chronicle emphasized in her season preview, two other offseason decisions – extending Steven Adams and re-signing Fred VanVleet to a more team-friendly contract – deserve just as much recognition for shaping the team’s identity.
Both Adams and VanVleet bring far more than their on-court production. They are widely respected as steady locker-room voices and proven playoff performers, traits Lerner notes were on full display during Houston’s postseason battle against the Warriors.
Adams’ physical presence and rebounding paired with VanVleet’s playmaking and poise gave the Rockets a backbone in high-pressure moments, even as the team fell short.
Coming off a 52-win campaign, Lerner writes that Houston should be poised to push that total even higher, potentially climbing into the 55-win range in 2025/26.
But while regular-season success is encouraging, the real measuring stick for this group will be its ability to advance when it matters most.
Houston hasn’t won a playoff series since 2020, and with Durant in the fold and a deeper, more experienced supporting cast, expectations are clear: this year, progress in the postseason is the only result that will count as true success.
Southwest Notes: FVV, Adams, Grizzlies, Pelicans, Mavs https://t.co/3pSe0nTwfx pic.twitter.com/3aE45ixr4s
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) September 6, 2025
