Despite some contractual uncertainty, the “working assumption” among NBA executives is for Fred VanVleet to return to the Rockets, Jake Fischer reports.
Ime Udoka on Fred VanVleet’s future: “I think both sides want to be here & want him here… He’s a huge part of our growth. Love everything he’s done. Perfect combo of on & off ball for our guards & young guys to grow. I’d love to have him back, & I think the feeling’s mutual.” pic.twitter.com/5Z7aHEctUJ
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) May 5, 2025
In line with previous reports, veteran reporter Jake Fischer (The Stein Line) says Saturday that the “working assumption” among NBA executives is for veteran point guard Fred VanVleet to remain with the Houston Rockets into next season and potentially beyond.
Earlier this month, the Rockets and VanVleet mutually agreed to delay the deadline for Houston to decide on his $44.9-million team option for the 2025-26 season. The deadline date was originally May 9, but it was pushed back to June 29. “This gives both sides additional time to navigate exercising the option versus completing a longer-term deal,” ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on May 7.
June 29 is the deadline for a majority of team or player options across the league, since each year’s free agency window opens on the evening of June 30. Thus, that June 29 date provides the maximum time possible to negotiate and/or make a decision prior to the start of a new fiscal year.
In this case, all indications are that VanVleet wants to remain with the Rockets, and the team wants to retain him in his starting role. The question is simply the terms.
Now 31 years old, VanVleet could get additional years of guaranteed money by negotiating a new contract with the Rockets. From the team’s perspective, offering additional guaranteed years could incentivize VanVleet to consider a reduced annual value, which could provide Houston with additional space (relative to the NBA’s tax thresholds) to help fill out the rest of its roster.
As one example, the Rockets would love to re-sign veteran center Steven Adams, and having VanVleet on the books at a lower figure in 2025-26 could perhaps free up additional resources for Adams.
For both sides, however, there is the question of how much they should give in the negotiation. From VanVleet’s perspective, how much of a reduction in annual value is he willing to give in exchange for more guaranteed years and avoiding the uncertainty of waiting until 2026? From Houston’s perspective, how many additional years are they comfortable giving to a guard in his 30s?
Delaying the date until June 29 gives all parties more time to think through their options and negotiate carefully.
“I put my heart and soul into this, and this is where I want to be,” said VanVleet (on May 4), who initially signed with the Rockets in 2023 free agency. “It was never a short-term vision. It was a long-term goal. We’re on track. We’re on schedule.”
After an injury plagued regular season, VanVleet was excellent for the Rockets in the 2025 postseason, averaging 18.7 points (43.5% on 3-pointers), 4.4 assists, and 4.1 rebounds across seven games against the Golden State Warriors. His true-shooting percentage was a robust 63.2%.
VanVleet is also well regarded for his leadership qualities, both on-court and off, for a young and improving Houston team. With VanVleet as the floor general, the Rockets finished 2024-25 with the league’s fourth-best record (52-30) and the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference.
“I think both sides want him here,” Rockets head coach Ime Udoka said on May 4. “He’s a huge part of our growth. Love everything he’s done. Perfect combo of on- and off-ball for our guards and young guys to grow. I’d love to have him back, and I think the feeling is mutual.”