The Rockets won t execute the maximum point guard team option, but will they still renew his long-term contract?

According to the authoritative ESPN reporter Shams Charania, the Houston Rockets and the team's starting point guard Fred VanVleet have reached a preliminary intention for a long-term contract renewal. The Rockets currently hold Van Vleet's $44.9 million team option in the 2025-26 season, but management prefers not to execute this team option and signs a new contract with Van Vleet for a longer term but lower average salary, and keeps him on the team for a long time.

In the NBA regular season this season, Van Vleet played a total of 60 games due to injuries in 82 games, averaging 35.2 minutes per game, averaging 14.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.6 steals and 0.4 blocks, and 1.5 turnovers and 2.3 fouls, shooting percentage of 37.8%, three-point shooting percentage of 34.5%, and free throw shooting percentage of 81%. In the playoffs, VanVleet played 7 games in total, with averaging 40 minutes per game, with averaging 18.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 0.3 blocks, and 1.9 turnovers and 2.3 fouls. He shot 43%, three-point shooting percentage 43.5%, and 100% free throw shooting percentage.

VanVleet's performance during the regular season this season was really messy. His offensive efficiency was very poor, his three-point shooting percentage was quite unstable, and his performance in passing and organizing offense was also unsatisfactory. It is no exaggeration to say that Van Vleet completely dragged down the team during the regular season. Even though he was the oldest and most paid player in the team's starting lineup, he did not have the effect he should have at all. However, in the playoffs, the situation also changed a little. In the series against the Golden State Warriors, VanVleet's performance was getting better. When he performed poorly in the beginning of the series, he also found his sense of existence and reflected his value. In the last few games, he became a key figure in the team. Without VanVleet, the Rockets would not be able to survive until Game 7 of the series and might have been eliminated early.

In fact, VanVleet is a relatively complex existence for the Rockets. It is natural for the Rockets not to execute the team options in Van Vleet's contract next season, after all, the price is much higher than his performance and real strength. The amount of the new contract signed by the Rockets and Van Vleet next may also determine the Rockets' future development ceiling to a large extent. Although VanVleet performed well enough during the playoffs, his negative impact on the team during the regular season and in the first few games of the playoffs is also visible. Overall, VanVleet's reasonable annual salary should be $25 million, and considering his age, it is ideal to give him a three-year contract. If the Rockets give a contract of more than $120 million for four years, it will be equivalent to directly locking down the team's future salary space. Not only will Van Vleet not be traded after several seasons, but it will also cause the Rockets to have to give up some young players, not to mention that the gap between Van Vleet's ability and top point guards is also there. I don’t know what the price of this contract renewal is.