RADIO
Fred VanVleet to Skip Back-to-Backs Early in Season
Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet (knee) will not play in back-to-backs initially this season, head coach Ime Udoka said Tuesday. The good news is that VanVleet "looks good" and is taking part in full-contact, five-on-five work as he returns from the torn ACL that cost him all of 2025-26. The 32-year-old averaged 14.1 points, 5.6 assists, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.6 steals on 37.8 percent shooting in his last healthy season. Reed Sheppard should have more opportunities to handle the offense whenever VanVleet rests, while Marcus Smart gives Houston another veteran option in the backcourt.
Source: Jackson Gatlin
Source: Jackson Gatlin
Montrezl Harrell Works Out for Rockets' G-League Affiliate
Free-agent forward/center Montrezl Harrell completed a post-practice workout with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, the Houston Rockets' G-League affiliate, on Sept. 12 as he continues his NBA comeback attempt. Harrell told Brandon "Scoop B" Robinson that the session with the coaching staff "went really well." The 32-year-old hasn't played in the NBA since 2022-23 but stayed active this year, averaging 17.3 points for Atleticos de San German in Puerto Rico and setting a BIG3 single-game record with 42 points. Harrell still believes his rim-running and screen-setting can translate, but there is no contract on the table yet. For now, the workout is simply another step toward getting back into the league.
Source: Brandon "Scoop B" Robinson
Source: Brandon "Scoop B" Robinson
Fred VanVleet Ramps Up Contact Work
Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet (knee) has taken another step in his ramp-up before training camp, according to Brian Barefield of Big Sarge Media. Head coach Ime Udoka said VanVleet has "really ramped it up" while rehabbing in San Diego and has progressed to back-to-back work and contact activity. That builds on VanVleet's earlier expectation that he would be ready for the preseason opener, but Houston still has camp and exhibition games to gauge his workload. If he avoids a setback, VanVleet's return would tighten Reed Sheppard's path to usage after the young guard averaged 13.5 points on 43.0 percent shooting across 82 games last season.
Source: Brian Barefield
Source: Brian Barefield
Steven Adams Eyes Healthy Start with Rockets
Houston Rockets center Steven Adams (ankle) appears on track to be ready for the start of the 2026-27 season. "We're tracking that way," Adams told New Zealand's Weekend Sport with Jason Pine when asked in August about his availability, according to ESPN's Michael C. Wright. The 33-year-old underwent season-ending left ankle surgery in January after playing 32 games last season, averaging 5.8 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 22.8 minutes. Adams is not a scoring option, but his offensive rebounding remains the fantasy hook after Houston ranked No. 1 on the offensive glass in both of his first two seasons with the team. Wright also notes the Rockets have ranked in the top three in second-chance points for two straight years. Adams should revive Houston's double-big looks with Alperen Sengun, leaving Clint Capela's path to steady backup minutes less secure.
Source: Michael C. Wright
Source: Michael C. Wright
Fred VanVleet Targets Preseason Return for Rockets
Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet (knee) expects to be on the floor in October when Houston opens the preseason in Macao, China, according to Michael C. Wright of ESPN. Wright notes that VanVleet has been back on the court "full-time, ramping up, feeling good" after missing all of 2025-26 with a torn right ACL. His return should restore some late-game organization for a team that struggled when defenses loaded up on Kevin Durant. VanVleet averaged 14.1 points, 5.6 assists, 1.6 steals, and 2.7 three-pointers in his last healthy season, though the 37.8 percent shooting still hurts. Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard gained valuable reps in his absence, but VanVleet profiles as the chief setup man for Durant and Alperen Sengun if he avoids setbacks.
Source: Michael C. Wright
Source: Michael C. Wright
Amen Thompson Agrees to Five-Year Extension with Houston
Houston Rockets guard/forward Amen Thompson agreed to a five-year, $208 million rookie-scale extension with the franchise, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. The deal includes a 10 percent trade kicker and locks in one of Houston's core pieces after Thompson led the NBA in minutes last season. The 23-year-old logged 37.4 minutes per game across 79 starts while averaging career highs of 18.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.5 steals. That workload remains the fantasy hook. Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun will command touches, but Thompson's rebounding, defensive production, and ball-handling role keep him firmly valuable. The jumper is still the swing skill, so his ceiling rises only if the shooting catches up.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Rockets Waive Tristen Newton
The Houston Rockets waived guard Tristen Newton in a corresponding move after signing rookie center Rafael Castro to a two-way deal. The former UConn standout was the No. 49 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft and signed with Houston in January after stops with Indiana and Minnesota, but he appeared in just one game for the Rockets. Newton was far more productive in the G-League, averaging 25.1 points across 30 games with Rio Grande Valley and earning All-NBA G-League First Team honors. That production still left him without a clear path in Houston, where Fred VanVleet, Marcus Smart, Amen Thompson, and Reed Sheppard are ahead of him in the backcourt. Newton could get another two-way look elsewhere, but he remains off the fantasy radar.
Source: Ben DuBose
Source: Ben DuBose
Rafael Castro Signs Two-Way Deal with Rockets
The Houston Rockets announced Wednesday that they signed rookie center Rafael Castro to a two-way contract and waived guard Tristen Newton in a corresponding move. Castro went undrafted after a redshirt senior season at George Washington and later played for Milwaukee's California Classic and Las Vegas Summer League teams. Across 63 starts over his final two college seasons, he averaged 14.6 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.6 blocks, and 1.5 steals while shooting 64.4 percent from the field. With Alperen Sengun, Steven Adams, and Clint Capela ahead of him, Castro projects for heavy Rio Grande Valley time and is not a fantasy target.
Source: Ben DuBose
Source: Ben DuBose
Sean Pedulla Signs Two-Way Deal with Rockets
The Houston Rockets announced that they've signed guard Sean Pedulla to a two-way deal on Monday. Pedulla was waived by the Los Angeles Clippers earlier this month. He made seven appearances with the Clippers last season, but spent most of his time in the G-League. Pedulla is the reigning G-League Rookie of the Year, averaging 23.6 points, 6.4 assists, and 5.1 rebounds. The 23-year-old is expected to spend most of his time in the G-League with the Rockets. He's unlikely to see much time on the NBA court unless there's a handful of injuries. Pedulla is avoidable in fantasy formats, but maybe they can develop him into a decent player.
Source: Houston Rockets
Source: Houston Rockets
Alperen Sengun's Efficiency Could Climb
Houston Rockets forward/center Alperen Sengun should benefit from Fred VanVleet's expected return, with The Dream Shake's Lachard Binkley writing that Sengun may gain the most from having Houston's floor general back. VanVleet missed the entire 2025-26 season after tearing his right ACL, leaving Sengun to carry more of the offense as a scorer, passer, rebounder, and late-clock option. The two-time All-Star still averaged 20.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.1 blocks across 72 games. VanVleet's return could trim Sengun's assists, but easier touches, cleaner entry passes, and less creation burden should help his efficiency. He remains one of the safer early-round fantasy centers.
Source: Lachard Binkley
Source: Lachard Binkley
Amen Thompson Eyes Below-Max Extension with Rockets
Houston Rockets guard/forward Amen Thompson is expected to sign a rookie-scale extension before the 2026-27 season begins, though a full five-year, $250 million max deal is not expected, according to ClutchPoints' Brett Siegel. Siegel wrote that a deal between 20 and 22 percent of the salary cap, worth roughly $200 million total, would make more sense for Houston. The 23-year-old broke out last season, averaging 18.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.5 steals across 79 games. He was already a 2024-25 All-Defensive First Team selection, and the fantasy appeal is clear: rebounds, assists, steals, and efficiency. The jumper still caps the ceiling, but Thompson is trending toward early-round value.
Source: Brett Siegel
Source: Brett Siegel
Kevin Durant Targets Team USA Return
Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant wants to play for Team USA at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, per Evan Sidery. Durant, 37, has already played in the last four Olympics and became the first American men's basketball player to win four gold medals, so a 2028 appearance would add another historic layer to his Team USA resume. He is not fading yet, either, earning All-NBA Second Team honors after averaging 26.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and shooting 41.3 percent from three for Houston. The Olympic note is not actionable for fantasy, but it reinforces Durant's staying power. He remains an early-round fantasy forward for scoring, threes, and elite percentages, with age and durability as the main risks.
Source: Evan Sidery
Source: Evan Sidery
JD Davison Waived by Rockets
The Houston Rockets waived guard JD Davison, per Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. The move cuts Davison loose after Houston picked up his non-guaranteed 2026-27 option earlier this offseason, and the Houston Chronicle notes it also gets the team back under the luxury-tax threshold. Davison, 23, averaged just 2.5 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists across 28 games for the Rockets last season, though he remains more intriguing in developmental settings after winning 2024-25 G-League MVP. His speed and playmaking could earn him another two-way look elsewhere, but he is nowhere near redraft relevance.
Source: Michael Scotto
Source: Michael Scotto
Julian Phillips Signs Training Camp Deal With Rockets
The Houston Rockets signed forward Julian Phillips to a training camp contract, the team announced. The 35th pick in the 2023 draft, Phillips lands his third NBA home after Minnesota declined his option in June, months removed from the February trade that sent him from Chicago to the Timberwolves. Still 22, the explosive athlete has never found a role, averaging 3.6 points and 1.5 rebounds across 167 career games. His deal is reportedly non-guaranteed, leaving him to compete for one of Houston's final roster spots. A career 32.0 percent three-point shooter, Phillips has yet to show a bankable fantasy skill, leaving him off the radar unless he first wins a roster spot and steady minutes.
Source: The Spot Up Shot
Source: The Spot Up Shot
Oscar Tshiebwe Signs With Rockets
The Houston Rockets signed free-agent forward Oscar Tshiebwe on Friday. The details of the deal weren't announced, but it's assumed that it's a one-year deal worth the league minimum. Tshiebwe has spent each of the last two seasons as a member of the Utah Jazz. Last season, Tshiebwe averaged 7.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.2 assists across 16.6 minutes per game in 27 contests. He has been in the league for three years, but has yet to surpass 50 total games played in the league. This looks to be mainly a depth move by the Rockets. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect Tshiebwe to make an impact unless there are a few injuries.
Source: Houston Rockets
Source: Houston Rockets
