Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet (5).
Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet (5).
Key Points
After being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs after finishing with the second-best record in the Western Conference last season, the Houston Rockets will enter the 2025-26 season looking to make a run at a championship.
Of course, it was a busy offseason for the Rockets as they made multiple moves to upgrade their roster around their core led by Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson.
Houston’s biggest move of the offseason came when they acquired Kevin Durant from the Phoenix Suns in exchange for a trade package that included Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks and the 10th overall pick in the 2025 draft Phoenix used to select Khaman Maluach.
Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant, forward Amen Thompson and center Alperen Şengün pose for photos during media day at Toyota Center on Sept. 29, 2025.
Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant, forward Amen Thompson and center Alperen Şengün pose for photos during media day at Toyota Center on Sept. 29, 2025.
The Rockets then signed Clint Capela, Dorian Finney-Smith and Josh Okogie in free agency to upgrade their depth.
With these moves, the Rockets are looking to make a championship run this season behind their new star trio of Durant, Sengun and Thompson.
Rockets Among Favorites for Russell Westbrook After Fred VanVleet Injury
Houston Rockets point guard Fred VanVleet (5). — Source: © Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
Despite this, Houston did suffer a massive blow this offseason as starting point guard Fred VanVleet suffered a torn ACL which will likely cause him to miss the entire season.
With VanVleet’s injury, the Rockets are thin at the point guard position heading into the new season which has caused them to emerge as one of the favorites to sign Russell Westbrook in free agency.
Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook (4) — Source: © Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
According to BetUS, the Rockets have the second-best odds (+200) to sign Westbrook this season as they only trail the Sacramento Kings who are the favorite (+150) to sign him.
Houston is then followed by the Dallas Mavericks (+200), Golden State Warriors (+300) and New York Knicks (+350) in Bet US’s odds to sign Westbrook.
Westbrook Could Reunite With Rockets, Durant
For the Rockets, if they were to sign Westbrook it would be his second stint in Houston and would also reunite him with one of his former Oklahoma City Thunder teammates in Durant.
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) and guard Russell Westbrook (0) — Source: © Brad Rempel-Imagn Images
Of course, Westbrook played alongside Durant during their time with the Thunder before Durant signed with the Warriors in 2016.
The veteran guard also played for the Rockets during the 2019-20 season after the Thunder traded him to Houston where he put together a solid season, though they would end up trading him to the Washington Wizards the following offseason.
Why Westbrook Could Fit With Rockets
Now Westbrook is looking for a new home for the 2025-26 season as he remains unsigned with the regular season right around the corner and his fit with the Rockets could be a solid one, especially with VanVleet sidelined.
For Westbrook, he may no longer be the MVP caliber player that he was earlier in his career but he is still a reliable scorer and playmaker who proved last season with the Denver Nuggets that he can still be a key piece on a contending team.
Russell Westbrook during his last game for the Denver Nuggets in the 2025 Playoffs.
Russell Westbrook during his last game for the Denver Nuggets in the 2025 Playoffs.
Last season, the 36-year-old guard averaged 13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 44.9% from the field and 32.3% from three.
After his strong season last year, Westbrook could be a solid addition to Houston’s roster either off the bench or as their new starting point guard with VanVleet sidelined, though they may look elsewhere to add another point guard if they choose to do so.
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Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook