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Kevin Durant can’t fix Rockets’ problems after Fred VanVleet’s season-ending injury

Originally posted on HITC | By Bergas Agung | Last updated Sep 27, 2025 9:32 AM ET

The Houston Rockets were among the early favourites for next season, but those odds took a big hit following Fred VanVleet’s injury.

The veteran guard suffered an Achilles injury and is expected to miss the entire year, leaving a major hole in the Rockets’ roster.

Without VanVleet, they’re missing their main ball-handler and playmaker – a big loss for any team hoping to make a deep run.

Aaron Holiday or Reed Sheppard could step in, but neither has the experience to take on that role full-time. Amen Thompson is another option, though he may not be the best fit either.

Chris Vernon draws parallels between Timberwolves and Heat mistakes to caution Houston Rockets on point guard needs

NBA podcaster Chris Vernon has pointed out that Houston need a reliable replacement for VanVleet, drawing on past examples where teams have suffered from not having a true point guard.

He highlighted the Minnesota Timberwolves’ struggles without Mike Conley and Miami’s decision to lean on Tyler Herro in a similar role.

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“To me, the underrated thing is the guy that sets the table, the adult, the organizer. I can’t tell you how many teams I have argued about this. Because Phoenix said, ‘Oh, well, they could just have him do it’. No, you can’t,” Vernon explained.

“New Orleans said ‘We could just put CJ McCollum at point’, no you can’t. San Antonio said ‘Oh we could just put Jeremy Sochan’, no you can’t. And Minnesota tried to go away from Mike Conley last year, no. You can’t.”

Even Kevin Durant can’t fill the gap left by Fred VanVleet’s injury, and the Rockets don’t have many options

Even with Kevin Durant now on board, Vernon feels that the Rockets still need a proper point guard to tie everything together.

“[The Rockets might have Durant, but] so did Phoenix,“ Vernon said, noting that even with a superstar in place, things didn’t always click for them.

At this point in free agency, there isn’t much available beyond veteran minimum deals. Finding a meaningful replacement on such limited terms is next to impossible.

A trade is one possible route. Bill Simmons floated Payton Pritchard from Boston as an option, though it was more of an idea than anything based in reality.

Vernon finished up his remarks by making it clear how big an impact this could have on Houston’s season if they don’t sort it out soon:

“This is a critical injury that demands replacement. And if they don’t replace him, yes, I will have them much further down in the standings that I would have previously,” Vernon stated.

This article first appeared on HITC and was syndicated with permission.

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