Houston Rockets Point Guard Fred Vanvleet underwent a torn straight acl Last week, during a melee of team minicamp in the Bahamas, several sources told Yahoo Sports. Vanvleet, 31, is expected to undergo surgery later this week.
The news arrives at a brutal moment for the organization, with a training camp a few weeks ago and the franchise swiveling the continuation of the title after the arrival of the attacking of the striker at 14 stars Kevin Durant. In the past two seasons, Vanvleet had established itself as the extension of the head coach Ime Udoka on and off the field, offering young people of Houston a structure, a well-necessary ground spacing and ball security. The Rockets rewarded it with an extension of $ 50 million over two years this offseason.
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The team’s options at this stage, with regard to external aid are limited. Houston is currently styled at the first apron, scheduled for 195.9 million dollars, which prevents him from looking for veteran guards still on the market, notably Seth Curry, Malik Beasley and Russell Westbrook. The organization also signed a slew of its own players this offseason to Jabari Smith Jr., Steven Adams, Jae’Sean Tate and Aaron Holiday – and they are only eligible for trade in mid -December, without mentioning the fact that the Rockets do not want to lose additional players.
Despite the striated shots of Vanvleet in the past two seasons, its ability to stabilize the team in the Halfcourt (94th centile in turnover percentage last season, by cleaning the glass) will be cruelly missed – in addition to its constant effort at the other end as a defensive playmaker. Houston must now move most of Vanvleet’s workload to keep Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard.
For Thompson, who has experienced a season in small groups which won all honors and has an average of a hue under four assists per match in 69 departures, assuming that more tasks of play will not increase its rapid development. Jalen Green’s departure opened the door to more opportunities for Thompson, and Vanvleet’s unhappy injury is only strengthening this.
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For Sheppard, the second year goalkeeper who comes out of a recruited season from top to bottom and an incoherent summer league, other questions will ask his ability to manage a larger workload so quickly. Houston brass, however, remains high on Sheppard’s capacity, a belief that has also been taken up in the list.
“The more our young people can intensify, be ready to go and jump, it will give more elderly guys more cushion,” said Vanvleet earlier this offseason. “The best Reed (Sheppard) plays, the less I have to be there. It’s just general basketball 101.”
There is hope in the Vanvleet camp, because he is looking for several opinions on potential recovery hours, that the 31 -year -old goalkeeper will be back according to the playoffs, but it is not very common.
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In the meantime, the training camp will become an even greater opportunity for the Rockets to experiment. Udoka will have to determine what will be its starting range new look without Vanvleet. The Rockets always boast of one of the deepest lists of the NBA before the season, with an abundance of length and defensive versatility that Udoka can rely. For example, Houston could start Thompson to the leader and flank him with Dorian Finney-Smith, during, Smith and the departure center Alperen şengün. ŞENGün, which comes out of a season of stars and solid summer performance in Eurobasket, has all the programs of a superstar and is already a big passer -by. During is also an effective ball scope and can manage the guard protector tasks in places.
Vanvleet’s injury certainly puts a breach in the chances of Houston’s title, but the Rockets have even more than enough talents to be a force in the Western Conference.
