With the addition of Fred VanVleet, the Houston Rockets landed their leader

Catch up on free live agency news and analysis from all NBA employees, and subscribe to The Bounce to get basketball content delivered straight to your inbox.

When the Rockets entered the world of free agency on Friday afternoon armed with $64 million in max space, they had some very specific goals in mind.

For starters, there was a natural need to improve the team on multiple fronts. Houston’s approach to rebuilding has yielded talented young players like Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason, and Alperin Shingon, but something is still missing. After winning just 59 games over the past three seasons, it was clear that there were shortcomings that needed addressing.

The shooting was one – an area considered non-negotiable from the talks between new head coach Im Odoka and the Rockets’ copper. Defensive versatility, an aspect sorely lacking, was another. But more importantly, Houston needed a guard. She needed to have stability. leader. conductor.

Enter Fred VanVleet. The 29-year-old base has reached an agreement to sign with Houston on Friday, team sources said the athlete. The Rockets have landed their first free agent target on the market and, more importantly, have finally signed a veteran in basketball’s hottest position and their obvious hole.

“I think it’s a situation he needs to take,” said former ESPN anchor Jeff Van Gundy. the athlete newly. “They need a point guard and a contender. He would bring the right experiences, level of toughness and sponsorship factor that has been so critical at the heart of the losing franchise in the league over the past three years.”

Houston’s offensive performances over the past two seasons, despite having a group of players with ups and downs here and there, have lacked coherence and control. The Rockets’ best attempt at bolstering playmaking duties included a trade for Kevin Porter Jr. And turning him into a football player in addition to drafting Şengün. At times, though few and far between, it looked like it could work – Şengün’s natural unselfishness and court vision paired with Porter’s irreverence and passing improvement. But as mentioned, those moments were fleeting. The Rockets largely operated amidst a mess that was largely the fault of former head coach Stephen Silas, but, in fact, a roster problem.

Now with VanVleet in the fold, the Rockets can finally morph from a team that picked the best player available to begin piecing together the pieces of a team looking to improve quickly.

Since taking over the head coaching position, Udoka has wasted no time revamping his staff. He has spent a great deal of time with his new players as both parties keep talking and learning directions.

For weeks heading into free agency, the ongoing theme, consistent top-down message, was to find a major football player. Of course, the Rockets recently drafted Elite member Amin Thompson in overtime with the No. 4 pick, an athletic, defensive powerhouse who plays the same position. But Houston has learned from its mistakes in the past two seasons. There is no rush or desire to throw Thompson into a fire and watch him fend for himself like Green and Smith sometimes had to do. The up-and-coming player now has a great mentor and role model to watch and learn as he continues to develop his own game.

A quick look at VanVleet’s counting stats suggests he had a down year in 2022-23, and he did, from a shooting standpoint. Still, he averaged 7.2 assists a game, the highest mark of his career, and his importance in keeping Toronto’s offense afloat was beyond question — the Raptors were about seven points better with VanVleet on the floor in glass cleaning, good for the percentage slide. The 92. . From the point of view of the play industry, there are probably only a few better handball players. VanVleet is patient yet quick to make a decision. His determination often saves the Raptors, and his leadership on the field is excellent. On the other side of the ball, VanVleet remains one of the main defenders in his position, which is quite an achievement for a keeper of such a small size. He moves his feet well, has great hands and anticipation, and most importantly intelligence. He’ll do wonders for a Rockets team that needs a face-lift on this side of the earth and he’ll mesh well with head coach Odoka who’s bleeding defensive stops.

VanVleet’s presence instantly raises the floor and ceiling in the young heart of Houston. Combined with Udoka’s new attack, which will involve a lot of player movement and transfer, we expect an improvement in catching and shooting efficiency for players like Green (35.1 percent last season) and Smith (29.4 percent) and an instant partnership with Porter (43.5 percent). VanVleet should pair well with Şengün, a big guy with a high IQ with a huge upside.

Now, the fun begins. The Rockets are still armed with a decent amount of cover space and still expect to be the most aggressive in the market. Houston is still chasing Dillon Brooks and Brooke Lopez, team and league sources say, as it continues to renew its roster. But with their top target now secured, the Rockets can breathe a little easier as they attempt to return to NBA relevancy.

(Photo: Troy Taormina/USA Today)