The Houston Rockets projected like one of the best teams in the NBA for the upcoming years after landing Kevin Durant. However, the team just got hit with very bad news before the season even starts. Their starting point guard, Fred VanVleet, is badly injured and now the team needs to rearrange their starting lineup.

According to Shams Charania of ESPN, VanVleet suffered a torn ACL that could potentially end his season before it even tips off. Now, this is how the lineup should look:

• Point Guard: Amen Thompson
• Shooting Guard: Reed Sheppard
• Small Forward: Kevin Durant
• Power Forward: Jabari Smith Jr.
• Center: Alperen Sengun

The Rockets could also play with the lineup a little

While it may take a bit of adjustment, the Rockets could play with their roster until finding new heights. Amen Thompson can play from the 1 to the 3. Kevin Durant can also play as a PF if needed. However, there’s an intriguing thing that could be done to add size.

An intriguing opportunity is to put Alperen Sengun as a power forward and make Steven Adams the starting center. Adams is a leader, one of the best rebounders in the NBA and that let’s Sengun spread the floor with his ball handling ability. Then, this also means Durant stays as a small forward, where he shines.

It’s still a big blow to the Rockets

VanVleet is one of the few players on the roster with championship experience. But even further than that, he was the best ball handler on the team and arguably one of the best three-point shooters on the lineup.

He was key for this team and now the Rockets will hope that it’s not a season-ending injury. If they can recover him towards the later parts of the season and get him in form for the playoffs, the Rockets would be ecstatic.

Dillon Brooks played 73 games as a starter with the Memphis Grizzlies during the 2022-2023 season in what was his second season with that many games as a starter and the first with 30.3 minutes per game.

On the other hand, Fred VanVleet played his last season where he averaged 19.3 points per game in 69 starts with the Toronto Raptors after rejecting his player option, being a surprise to everyone, but others knew that his time with the franchise was coming to an end, especially after last season where he averaged 19.3 points per game in 69 starts.

However, despite the fact that they had bad seasons, it is likely that Brooks and VanVleet will join new teams to play in the upcoming 2023-2024 season. VanVleet is likely to have more offers than Brooks.

Why were VanVleet and Brooks labeled as Tank Commanders?

During a recent episode of The Mismatch podcast, Dillon Brooks’ stats were released where it was revealed that he took 991 shots and only made 39.6% of those shots which translates to 392/991. The worst thing is that only one other NBA player surpassed Brooks last season: Fred VanVleet with 1112 attempts and only scored 437 for 39.3%.

On the other hand, StatMuse also shared stats on the worst field goal attempts over the past season. Not only are VanVleet and Brooks below 40% at FG percentage, but Malik Beasley also makes the list with 39.5% and 937 attempts.

As a result, several teams which teams are interested in him. The Toronto Raptors offered VanVleet a contract worth $22.8 million for the upcoming season. However, the 29-year-old point guard decided not to exercise his player option and is now exploring opportunities with other teams that can offer him a more lucrative contract.

The champion with the Toronto Raptors in 2019 and the recipient of the prestigious Larry O’Brien award that same season, is now seeking a change. Multiple franchises have already expressed their interest in acquiring his services, recognizing his talents and the impact he can bring to their teams.

Potential destinations for VanVleet

Fred VanVleet has attracted interest from multiple teams, including the Chicago Bulls, Orlando Magic, and New Orleans Pelicans. However, the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets are considered top contenders for his services.

The Los Angeles Lakers present an intriguing possibility for VanVleet, particularly if D’Angelo Russell becomes a free agent this summer. Additionally, the Lakers have other notable point guard options such as Trae Young, Kyrie Irving, and Chris Paul, who recently announced his departure from the Phoenix Suns.

Erik Spoelstra’s team fought hard and overachieved throughout the whole playoffs. Despite their apparent lack of talent and Tyler Herro’s injury, they were the better team on the court more often than not before facing the Denver Nuggets.

The Heat aren’t that far off from winning another championship. That’s why they’ll be quite aggressive in their pursuit of another All-Star caliber player, such as Damian Lillard. With that in mind, we’ll talk about him and other potential targets for the Miami Heat.

NBA Rumors: 3 Targets For The Heat

3. Damian Lillard

As we already mentioned, Damian Lillard should be an obvious target for Pat Riley and company. In fact, he already admitted that he would love to play there with his friend Bam Adebayo.

The Portland Trail Blazers might not be able to convince him of their chances to win a championship, so they could be forced to let him go in return for a very valuable trade package.

2. Chris Paul

Chris Paul is going to be the consolation prize for whoever misses on Damian Lillard and/or Kyrie Irving. That’s just the reality of his future in the league at this point in his career.

He’s no longer much of a scorer and struggles to stay healthy, but he’s still an elite defender and one of the greatest playmakers ever. The Phoenix Suns could still look to keep him, though.

1. Fred VanVleet

Fred VanVleet could be a huge difference-maker for any team this offseason. He’s a borderline All-Star player still in his prime, and he plays hard and puts up numbers on both ends of the floor.

VanVleet will opt out of his contract with the Toronto Raptors, and he has already found success subbing in for Kyle Lowry once, so there’s no reason to think he couldn’t do it again in South Beach.

Doc Rivers’ tenure run its course, and their stars’ underperforming in the playoffs has become a yearly tradition, so they might have to look for someone else to carry the load when it matters the most.

With that in mind, Brett Seigel of ClutchPoints reports that they could be looking at making a run at Fred VanVleet to replace James Harden, who’s likely to opt out of the final year of his deal and leave.

Sixers Might Replace James Harden With Fred VanVleet

“Harden owns a $35.64 million player option for the 2023-24 season that many around the league are anticipating him opting out of,” Siegel wrote. “Leaving the Sixers after just one full season and signing elsewhere as an unrestricted free agent is a very real possibility for Harden, which is why Philadelphia has begun giving thought as to who could replace the former league MVP. According to league sources close to the organization, Raptors All-Star guard Fred VanVleet has emerged as a potential replacement for Harden this offseason.”

VanVleet Has Strong Praise For Nick Nurse

VanVleet is also expected to pursue a bigger deal in free agency. And with the Sixers hiring former Raptors coach Nick Nurse, it seems like there’s a real possibility of a reunion:

“He’s just a different voice that they haven’t heard before, something outside the box who is going to bring new ideas, creative ideas,” VanVleet said of his former coach joining the Sixer. “It will be a breath of fresh air for them and anytime you’re changing head coaches, that’s pretty much what you’re looking for. A new identity, a new voice for guys to kind of rally behind. I think he’ll have some success. Hopefully not too much if I’m not there and I’m staying in Toronto, then we want him to fail. But other than that, I am happy that he landed on his feet.”

The table seems set for the Sixers to at least consider signing the former NBA champion, who’s played himself into borderline All-Star consideration for years now.

In fact, the Philadelphia 76ers have already started to make changes aiming to come back stronger. After yet another failure in the postseason, the team has decided to move on from head coach Doc Rivers.

That wouldn’t be all, though. The Sixers have a big decision to make in regard to James Harden, whose future in the City of the Brotherly Love looks uncertain. However, it looks like the team has already identified his potential replacement.

Rumor: Sixers see Fred VanVleet as an alternative to Harden

(Via Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints)

“Harden owns a $35.64 million player option for the 2023-24 season that many around the league are anticipating him opting out of. Leaving the Sixers after just one full season and signing elsewhere as an unrestricted free agent is a very real possibility for Harden, which is why Philadelphia has begun giving thought as to who could replace the former league MVP. According to league sources close to the organization, Raptors All-Star guard Fred VanVleet has emerged as a potential replacement for Harden this offseason”

While Fred VanVleet is not exactly an upgrade to Harden, he could fit very well next to Joel Embiid. Besides, he has already won a championship with the Toronto Raptors. Even so, we’ll have to wait to know whether The Beard is actually walking out of Philly.

That’s why it’s so frustrating for them to watch the referees mess with their chances of winning when they’re actually playing well, just like it happened vs. the Denver Nuggetsand then with the Los Angeles Clippers.

Considering that, Raptors star Fred VanVleet had one of the most epic rants in professional sports history, a NSFW tirade that cost him a $30,000 fine, but that will be remembered until the end of time.

Fred VanVleet Eviscerates NBA Referees

“I don’t mind, I’ll take a fine; I don’t really care,” VanVleet started. “I thought Ben Taylor was f—–g terrible tonight. I think that most nights, you know out of the three [referees] there’s one or two that just f–k the game up. It’s been like that a couple of games in a row. Denver was tough, obviously. You come out tonight, competing pretty hard and I get a bulls–t tech that changes the whole dynamic of the game, changed the whole flow of the game.”

“Most of the refs are trying hard; I like a lot of the refs, they’re trying hard, they’re pretty fair, and communicate well,” the guard continued. “And then you got the other ones who just want to be d–s and just kind of f–k up the game. And no one’s coming to see that s–t. They come to see the players. And I think we’re losing a little bit of the fabric of what the NBA is and was and it’s been disappointing this season. You can look it up: Most of my techs this year have been with Ben Taylor officiating. So at a certain point as a player you feel it’s personal and it’s never a good place to be.”

“There’s been certain times this year where I feel our team is getting consumed with the way the whistle is going, especially after the night we just had in Denver the way that finished so there was a couple calls earlier that we all disagreed with,”VanVleet said.

“And if I say to my team, ‘come on, guys, let’s keep playing through the bulls–t’ and that warrants a tech I think that’s a little bit crazy,” added VanVleet.”Like what are we doing, know what I mean? And there’s a fine line obviously, I understand that. But I think the jurisdiction and the power trip that we’ve been on this year with some of our officials in this league is getting out of hand and I’ll take my fine for speaking on it but it’s just this is f–king ridiculous.”

Well, all things considered, VanVleet should be thankful it ‘only’ cost him $30,000. But he’s now become the voice of a generation. NBA referees are terrible at their jobs,and someone needed to say it just the way he said it.

So, this time of the year will be key for every single franchise. It could seal their fate asbottom-feeders thinking of the upcoming NBA Draftor set them up for success when the playoffs come.

As you may know by now, this season’s trade deadline continues to zoom in, and all 30 teams are looking to make moves. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the best players likely to be available.

NBA Rumors: The Best Trade Deadline Candidates

3. Kyle Kuzma

Kyle Kuzma is finally putting his money where his mouth is and proving that he can be a star in this league. His versatility as a shooting combo forward and his defense make him an intriguing candidate ahead of the deadline.

Kuzma is reportedly willing to bet on himself and opt out of the final year of his contract with the Washington Wizards if needed. So, the team that trades for him needs to be sure that he’ll want to stay.

2. Fred VanVleet

Fred VanVleet’s rise to stardom was as unlikely as it was fast. But he might not be able to live up to his huge contract with his team, as he’s already outgrown the struggling Toronto Raptors.

The Raptors are likely to be sellers ahead of the deadline, and multiple teams should inquire about VanVleet’s 3-and-D skill set. He might be slightly overpaid, but he can put up big numbers in the right place.

1. OG Anunoby

Another Toronto Raptors star makes thislist in OG Anunoby. He’s highly touted as one of the best defensive wings in the league this season, and he could fetch as many as three first-round picks in return.

Anunoby is a privileged athlete who can guard multiple positionsand whose offense is finally starting to catch up with his defense. He’s still quite young and has some room for improvement, only making him a more appealing asset.

Rob Pelinka made some minor moves in the offseason, and it became evident that they were still lacking the firepower to make a deep run in the Western Conference, even with a healthy Anthony Davis.

Now, after months of inconsistent play and blowout losses, it seems like the front office has finally decided to do something. With that in mind, they could target a veteran point guard from a struggling team, according to the latest rumors.

NBA Rumors: Lakers Could Pursue Fred VanVleet Or Kyle Lowry

“The 17-23 Raptors have financial decisions to make at some point. Keep this in mind, too: Under team president Masai Ujiri and general manager Bobby Webster, the Raptors are not known for major deals at the trade deadline. VanVleet is worth watching, and with his name linked to a possible Lakers deal, don’t discount a sly move for VanVleet by Orlando,” USA Today’s Jeff Zillgittreported.

“The Heat are notoriously tight-lipped about their plans,” Zillgitt added. “But around the league, it’s believed the Heat are willing to shed Kyle Lowry’s contract, which pays him $29.6 million in 2023-24. The Heat, who reached the Finals in 2020 and the conference finals last season, are 21-20 and in eighth place. Lowry is another player who has been linked to a potential deal with the Lakers, and Minnesota sending D’Angelo Russell to Miami for Lowry would net the Heat an expiring contract.”

Ironically, PG play hasn’t been one of the Lakers’ issues this season, as Dennis Schroder has been quite solid and Russell Westbrook is turning heads off the bench. But it’s nice to know that they’ve finally decided to improve their roster.

Every single team needs players that are willing to put the body on the line. Those scrappy guyswould do whatever it takes to prove their worth and help their team win, regardless of the praise and recognition.

Those players often fly under the radar and don’t get the credit they deserve for their contributions. That’s why today, we’ll honor them by letting you know about the top 5 most underrated players in today’s NBA.

The 5 Most Underrated Players In The NBA

5. Joe Ingles

Joe Ingles isn’t the most athletic guy on earth but you shouldn’t let that fool you. Despite his lack of speed, he’s great at positioning himself on defense and can hold his own vs. stronger and faster players night in and night out.

Not only Ingles is a solid defender but he’s also one of the best passing forwards in the game. He can score from all three levels and has an elite basketball IQ. He can play on and off the ball and make an impact on every single category.

4. Kyle Kuzma

Kyle Kuzma gets a lot of heat on social media because of his personality. He’s outspoken, shares some head-scratching takes, and often talks a big game. That rubs people the wrong way, especially if you play for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Then again, that shouldn’t keep fans from giving Kuzma his flowers. He’s made great strides to become a good defender and he’s proven capable of knocking down shots when his name is called upon. He’s not nearly half as good as he thinks he is, but he’s still pretty good.

3. Fred VanVleet

Fred VanVleet is an example of hard work and resiliency. He went undrafted and kept on grinding. Now, he’s an NBA Champion with a huge paycheck and is starting at shooting guard for the Toronto Raptors.

VanVleet doesn’t get the credit he deserves for his pesky and suffocating defense. He’s also a great shooter, whether if it’s pulling up or in catch-and-shoot. His playmaking also goes unnoticed more often than not, but he’s one of the most versatile combo guards in the NBA.

2. Malcolm Brogdon

Talking about versatility, we must mention Malcolm Brogdon’s name. The former Rookie of the Year isn’t a flashy player or a guy that will wow you with his athleticism, but he’s a smart player who always makes the right decision and rarely makes a mistake.

Brogdon can play both guard spots, play on and off the ball, and is an outstanding defender. His length allows him to guard multiple spots and he continues to improve as a shooter as well. He’s one of the smartest players you’ll find out there.

1. Marcus Smart

Marcus Smart has to be the most underrated player in the NBA. People judging for his scoring averages and being such a high draft pick, but he brings way more to the table than just points. He’s one of the best and most versatiledefenders we’ve seen in decades.

Despite his size, Smart can guard one through five with ease. He doesn’t mind taking a beating and will put his body on the line on every single possession. He’s scrappy, tough, and physical, and will get in your face to get the job done. Also, he’s improved as a three-point shooter and is a solid playmaker but his biggest traits have to be his leadership and relentlessness.

At first glance, this year’s free-agent class isn’t exactly the richest in terms of talent or top-tier playersbut it has countless role players that could make a huge difference on contending teams.

That’s why today, we’ve put together a list featuring the top 7 free agents that could make an impact on teams trying to make it to the NBA Finals. Notably, we won’t include Anthony Davis because he’s a lock to resign with the Los Angeles Lakers.

9. Dwight Howard

2019/20 Stats: 7.5 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 0.7 APG

Even if he’s no longer the perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate he once was, Dwight Howard proved that he can still be a huge contributor toa championship team. He was in the best shape of his career and provided a lot of energy on both ends of the glass.

Howard is still an elite rim runner and rim protector and he already said that he won’t take a veteran minimum deal again after winning his first ring. If he stays locked in, he could be a major addition for a contending team on a one-year deal.

8. Fred VanVleet

2019/20 Stats: 17.6 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 6.6 APG

Fred VanVleet was honest about his plans for free agency. He said that he’s already an NBA Champion and now just wants to cash in after enduring a tough journey on his way to the league. It’s fair, and he’s earned it.

‘Steady Freddy’ broke out as a scorer and playmaker this season after already proving that he could be a lockdown defender in the backcourt as well. He’s likely going to be overpaid, though, as he’s better off as a role player and there are still some doubts about his ability to be ‘the man’.

7. Serge Ibaka

2019/20 Stats: 15.4 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 1.4 APG

Serge Ibaka continues to be a reliable source of energy on both ends of the floor. He’s no longer the top-notch rim protector he was during his days at OKC, but he can still play solid defense in the post and the perimeter.

Ibaka has also added the three-point shot to his repertoire which is a must nowadays for big men, and he’s rumored to be on the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers‘ radar if the Toronto Raptors don’t bring him back.

6. Montrezl Harrell

2019/20 Stats: 18.6 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 1.7 APG

The reigning Sixth Man of the Year has earned his money, that’s for sure. However, it’s unlikely that the Los Angeles Clippers will be willing to commit a lot of cash for Montrezl Harrell after their meltdown last year.

The Clippers are reportedly going to look for a third star in the offseason and keeping Harrell will be tricky. He’s a never-ending source of energy and an outstanding offensive rebounder, but whether he’s good enough to start and sign a big contract is yet to be seen.

5. Jerami Grant

2019/20 Stats: 12.0 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 1.2 APG

The Denver Nuggets would be making a huge mistake if they let Jerami Grant walk away, although they may have no choice if other teams showup with a big bag of cash, which is likely to be the case.

Grant has improved as a scorer from all three levels and his versatility as a defender could come pretty handily for teams lacking size. He can guard one through five and could even play as an undersized center from time to time.

4. Tristan Thompson

2019/20 Stats: 12.0 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 2.1 APG

LeBron James made sure that Tristan Thompson got his money in his last contract. Now, he knows that he’s going to have to take a massive discount if he wants to go back to contending for a ring.

Thompson is one of the best offensive rebounders in the league and has made great strides as a defender as well, although his offense is still limited, to say the least. His skill set could be perfect for teams needing an interior presence and second-chance opportunities.

3. Joe Harris

2019/20 Stats: 14.5 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 2.1 APG

People continue to sleep on Joe Harris despite the fact that he’s been one of the most efficient volume shooters in the league for the past couple of years. Now, there aren’t going to be many touches for him in the Brooklyn Nets.

Harris is the best sharpshooter in this year’s free agency class and he already got paid a nice bag, so perhaps he’ll now pursue his first ring. There’s no doubt that there will be plenty of teams waiting in line to acquire his JJ Redick-ish services.

2. Danilo Gallinari

2019/20 Stats: 18.7 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 1.9 APG

I guess that we can all agree that if it wasn’t for injuries, then Danilo Gallinari would be a multiple-time All-Star and one of the best scorers in the league. That’s why he keeps getting paid despite being so injury-prone.

The Italian forward has a rare combination of size, speed, and shooting skills that many contending teams could find helpful. He’s likely looking to cash in the lastlucrative deal of his career.

1. Carmelo Anthony

2019/20 Stats: 15.4 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 1.5 APG

And last but not least, we find Carmelo Anthony. Everybody should be waiting in line outside his house to apologize to him after dubbing him a toxic player and pointing him out as the scapegoat over and over.

Melo proved againthat he’s one of the greatest scorers of all time by hitting huge clutch shots for the Blazers last year. He embraced his lesser role and showed that he still has a lot left in the tank, and any contending team could use his timely and efficient scoring touch.