Offseason Thread

[Donoghus]

Shams Charania
@ShamsCharania
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1m
Miami Heat All-Star Tyler Herro is undergoing surgery on his left foot and will be sidelined to begin the 2025-26 season, sources tell ESPN.

Did he recently hurt it? Or was this an injury from the season that he just put off getting corrected? Or is this a move by Herro to prevent being trade-bait?

Weird timing.

Apparently, some time this offseason.

Shams Charania
@ShamsCharania
?
54m
Herro suffered an ankle injury in an offseason workout that led to the decision for surgery, sources said.

[Donoghus]

Well, that sucks.

Shams Charania
@ShamsCharania
?
10m
Just in: Houston Rockets' Fred VanVleet has suffered a torn ACL, sources tell ESPN. A devastating, potentially season-ending loss for the Rockets with their starting point guard and leader.

[Who]

Well, that sucks.

Shams Charania
@ShamsCharania
?
10m
Just in: Houston Rockets' Fred VanVleet has suffered a torn ACL, sources tell ESPN. A devastating, potentially season-ending loss for the Rockets with their starting point guard and leader.

Jeez. Their only legit ball-handler. Their only passer / playmaker in the backcourt. One of the few high volume outside shooters they have.

That could end Houston's title chances. Their guard depth is so weak that they may not be able to work around the loss of VanVleet. At least not with their current roster. It may require a trade to replace him.

-------------------------

I wonder if they will try to play Amen Thompson at PG in a big lineup. That was their plan when they drafted him. It hasn't worked out thus far but maybe they go back to it and try it again.

Reed Sheppard is another option. Still has a lot to prove.

Aaron Holiday is their most proven option. He can do a decent stand-in option at PG. I am always surprised he doesn't play more for Houston because he usually plays well when he gets the chance. Not as much upside as Reed or Amen but more dependable than either.

[Who]

The other reason - beyond lack of quality guard depth - that Houston is so dependent on VanVleet is their lack of ball-handling & passing from the two guard and forward positions.

Jabari Smith Jr = Not a ball-handler. Not a passer.
DFS = Not a ball-handler. Not a passer.
Tari Eason = Not a ball-handler. Not a passer.
J Okogie = Not a ball-handler. Not a passer.
Jeff Green = Limited ball-handler & passer.

Durant can give them some secondary ball-handling and playmaking but that is not his strong suit. Amen Thompson is the other wing with some handles & passing chops but they are both limited by his inability to make jump-shots. He was more of a cutter / off ball player last season. He has a lot of work to do as a jump-shooter to become a more useful ball-handler / playmaker.

It is only really those two. They have no legit two guard on their roster. Not in terms of shooting, ball-handling or passing. They had 1 quality guard in VanVleet and then a bunch of a forwards. Now they have lost VanVleet. Now they have zero quality guards.

[Birdman]

Wow very devastating for Houston..prayers for his recovery

[Roy H.]

Ouch.  Big loss, particularly for the way Ime likes to play.

[SparzWizard]

A blow to the Rockets playoff run and shifts the Western Conference seeding. Originally had them a top 3 team in the West, but they'll fall off now.

But get well soon for FVV, guy is a baller.

[Goldstar88]

I wonder if the Rockets would bite on Anfernee Simons since they don?t have many guards. They can?t afford to waste this year considering KD?s age.