Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images

Houston Rockets now urged to trade Fred VanVleet for ‘pie in the sky’ point guard by former NBA player

Originally posted on NBA Analysis Network
By Aaditya Krishnamurthy | Last updated Sep 30, 2025 10:54 AM ET

One former NBA star thinks the Houston Rockets should trade for a two-time NBA champion to replace Fred VanVleet this season.

The Houston Rockets did everything in their power to take their roster to the next level this offseason, making some major moves.

Perhaps no move was bigger than the trade to bring Kevin Durant to the Rockets, ending the superstar’s disappointing stint with the Phoenix Suns.

With Durant now added to a team that won 52 games last season, the Rockets looked set to contend. However, disaster struck when Fred VanVleet suffered a season-ending injury.

After losing the All-Star guard for the entire season, the Rockets will be considering their options. One former NBA star believes the Rockets should trade VanVleet to land a former NBA champion.

Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images

Raja Bell urges Houston Rockets to trade for Jrue Holiday

Former NBA star Raja Bell spoke on the Ringer’s NBA show to discuss the Houston Rockets. He believes the franchise should cut its losses and get rid of Fred VanVleet.

In his place, the Rockets should trade for Jrue Holiday, who, despite his age, can still play at a high level and is the ideal two-way point guard to replace VanVleet next season.

“Jrue Holiday is the perfect kind of name for that because you said there’s a real role to play. This isn’t someone who’s just filling minutes.

“We touched on the physical role, which is like, ‘Hey man, we’re coming down and KD’s hit a few and it’s my job to get offense.

“Let’s get him another one, or we haven’t got a touch over here for Sengun. Let’s make sure I run something.’

“There’s also just this huge leadership void, if you will. VanVleet meant a lot to them on the court in that regard.

“And then, Dillon Brooks, for whatever he is or isn’t as a physical player or an antagonist, he is a leadership type of guy. He’s a culture type of guy, and you lost that, too.

“You are very quickly down two real leaders. And if we’re being honest, as great as KD is, and we all love him, that’s not usually what you think he’s coming in to do.

“I think there’s a real need for a name like that. I love Jrue. Jrue is like pie in the sky for me. I know it’s tacky. I know how this is going to sound. I know how that looks, but time doesn’t stop moving.

“If you have a window of time like two years, with Kevin Durant in the type of shape and form as a player that you could potentially do something, while it would suck and it might look tacky to fans, you have to do something there.”

Fred VanVleet injury slows down Houston Rockets’ championship window

It’s unlikely that the Houston Rockets will replace Fred VanVleet this season. Giving up on a former All-Star point guard so quickly would be imprudent.

Not everyone believes Raja Bell is right, with Tim Legler warning the Rockets against trading VanVleet, pointing to the Boston Celtics and Jayson Tatum as an example.