Fred VanVleet To Exercise $25MM Player Option

VanVleet missed the entire 2025/26 season with a torn ACL and meniscus in his right knee. He suffered the injuries in a workout during a team retreat to the Bahamas shortly before the start of training camp last fall.

The 32-year-old guard came to Houston in free agency during the 2023 offseason, helping to reframe the team’s culture after three years of rebuilding. He re-signed last July, receiving a two-year, $50MM contract that included the player option.

During his last healthy season in 2024/25, VanVleet averaged 14.1 points, 3.7 rebounds and 5.6 assists in 60 games.

VanVleet is a 37.1% career shooter from three-point range and a steadying presence on the offense, which Houston badly missed during both the regular season and its first-round playoff loss to the Lakers. He also has championship experience, winning the title with Toronto in 2019.

He will now become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

With VanVleet’s decision out of the way, the next priority for the Rockets will be working out a contract with restricted free agent Tari Eason. They also have to make a decision on a $2.6MM team option for JD Davison.