Fred VanVleet's presence is missing from the Rockets' Preseason XX

On Wednesday, the Houston Rockets faced the Oklahoma City Thunder, a team widely viewed as a potential Western Conference champion next season.

In the first half, Oklahoma City had a 13-point lead behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren combining for 40 points.

Given Houston's treasure trove of backcourt players – including hyper-athlete Amen Thompson and recent No. 3 pick in Reed Sheppard – many have called for the Rockets to release their veteran point guard in Fred VanVleet to make this happen

VanVleet received a major contract last offseason and was crucial to the team's lead to 19 wins and the development of the young talent last season. Now that the team is rotated, some think his presence on the team is no longer as necessary.

If Wednesday night's game was any indication – where the 30-year-old sat for the second straight game – VanVleet is still an important part of these Rockets' roster.

Against the Thunder's strong starting five, the Rockets' offense appeared dysfunctional as they fired shot after shot with little flow or rhythm. The guards in Thompson and Jalen Green tried their best to act as floor generals but failed against a stout defense featuring Lu Dort, Alex Caruso and Chet Holmgren.

VanVleet has a long established presence on offense, dating back to his games with the title-winning Raptors several seasons ago. Most recently, he was able to stabilize Houston with a career-high 8.1 assists per game in 73 games.

In the second half, Oklahoma City sat down its starters while Houston continued to play with its five, and the team was more fluid on offense. But there's no doubt that VanVleet's ability to keep up with the group will be needed this coming season.

The Rockets' next game with the New Orleans Pelicans is Tuesday, October 15th. The team will open its 2024-25 regular season with a battle against the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday, October 23rd.

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