Why the Houston Rockets Should Consider Trading Fred VanVleet

The Houston Rockets have had a relatively quiet offseason. Although the team has made upgrades to the roster, there is room for further improvement. One of the options with the most significant upside is the potential benefit of trading Fred VanVleet.

Trading Fred VanVleet can bring in another high-caliber offensive threat to Houston. Although Houston had a lack of depth at the guard position previously, they have made adjustments to the roster and now have a stacked lineup of guards that will compete for minutes in the rotation.

Houston recently signed Marcus Smart from free agency, who provides the veteran leadership that VanVleet brings to the team. Smart also brings a more physical and intelligent defensive mindset than VanVleet, which is a priority for Ime Udoka’s defensive coaching mentality.

Houston also signed Bruce Thornton this offseason. The 31st overall pick is showing immense potential, and he will need to be given ample minutes on the court in order to develop efficiently.

On top of these recent signings, when Fred VanVleet was injured last season, Sheppard took over for a majority of his minutes. Across the 82 games he played throughout the 2025-26 season, he averaged 26.2 points, while shooting 39.4% from three-point range. In doing so, he has emerged as one of the most efficient perimeter shooters on the team.

VanVleet has given Houston a high-volume three-point shooter, but Sheppard's conversion rate is much more efficient. Houston just hired Chip Engelland to improve the team’s shooting. Engelland’s player development can have a bigger impact on the young core of the team, and because VanVleet is already 32 years old, he has less growth potential.

Not only did Sheppard prove his worth on the offense, but he also displayed his value on the defensive end by averaging 1.5 steals per game along with .7 blocks per game. He earned himself a defensive rating of 113.2, proving that he is efficient on both ends of the floor.

Sheppard’s impressive performances increased his potential, and trading VanVleet would allow a larger opportunity for Sheppard and Thornton to develop.

VanVleet also carries a risk of injuries, as his ACL tear makes him more susceptible to future injuries. However, VanVleet still holds a lot of trade value, which is amplified by his NBA Championship ring he won in 2019 with the Toronto Raptors.

Because of Houston’s newfound backcourt depth, trading VanVleet allows for the greatest improvement while having minimal setbacks and detriments.

If Houston can trade VanVleet for an elite player like Kyrie Irving or Zion Williams, it could elevate the team and put them on par with the likes of the San Antonio Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder.