ClutchFans’ Dave Hardisty joins Rockets podcasters Ben DuBose and Paulo Alves to react to the stunning news of Fred VanVleet tearing the ACL in his right knee.
Tuesday’s podcast episode of The Lager Line features reaction to the shocking news of Fred VanVleet tearing the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee, an injury that could cost him the entire 2025-26 Houston Rockets season.
With VanVleet sidelined, young prospects Reed Sheppard and Amen Thompson could receive more ball-handling and playmaking responsibilities for the Houston Rockets. For Sheppard, the No. 3 overall draft pick from the NBA’s 2024 first round, it could mean a promotion to the role of starting point guard.
Training camp opens for the Rockets next Tuesday, September 30, and Sheppard’s role and usage will be a clear focal point.
As part of an extended conversation reacting to the news, Rockets podcasters Ben DuBose and Paulo Alves are joined by Dave Hardisty, editor of the ClutchFans blog. Discussion topics include a review of the internal and external options to potentially replace VanVleet, along with insight on why it doesn’t have to end Houston’s 2026 title hopes.
Tuesday’s podcast, which is sponsored by Clutch City Lager of Karbach Brewing, can be listened to below in its entirety. Each episode of the show is also made available via flagship radio station SportsTalk 790 and all major podcast distributors under “The Lager Line.”
VanVleet, who suffered the injury during an unofficial team minicamp in The Bahamas, is scheduled for surgery this week (via Kelly Iko of Yahoo! Sports). The 31-year-old averaged 14.1 points and 5.6 assists per game last season, and he remains highly respected as a veteran locker-room leader.
The Rockets are not ruling out a return before the 2025-26 playoffs, which will begin in approximately seven months. However, that would be on the extreme short end of average ACL recovery timelines.
Even in the best-case scenario, VanVleet is certain to miss at least most of the season, and that could be brutal blow to the Rockets. After their blockbuster trade for Kevin Durant, Houston was widely projected to be among the NBA’s 2025-26 championship contenders.
Because the Rockets are hard capped at the NBA’s first-apron threshold, they do not immediately have many options to immediately change their roster. However, once 2025 offseason signings such as VanVleet, Dorian Finney-Smith, Clint Capela, Steven Adams, and more become trade eligible during the season (either December 15 or January 15), trades would become a more realistic possibility, if desired.