Fans and the media believed veteran point guard Fred VanVleet would miss the entire season after he tore his ACL during a Rockets scrimmage in the Bahamas.
The recovery period for athletes who have surgery
for an ACL tear is approximately nine months. This implies that Fred wouldn’t be prepared for a comeback until after the 2025–2026 season was over if he took the typical amount of time to recover. Vanvleet hasn’t been officially ruled out by the rockets, though.
For the first time since sustaining the injury, Houston’s longtime starter at point guard interviewed reporters during Monday’s shootaround, which took place just hours before a game against the Brooklyn Nets.
Although VanVleet acknowledged that there was no set timetable, it was evident from his remarks that he is also leaving the possibility of a comeback open.
Fred’s comments include:
“No timeline. I finally ditched crutches after a couple weeks, and that was a big moment for me. Just being able to walk around and move around freely. But, I’m just taking it slow, and day by day. It’s definitely a week-by-week thing, and we’ll see where we’re at by the end of the year.
I’m chipping away at rehab every day, focusing on getting better, and ultimately planning towards a return.
It’s really slow right now, and it’s tough to be out. I know how much work I put in, and I know my role and what I mean to this team. The worst part is not being out there with the guys, and not being able to contribute, right now.“
VanVleet is still around the team and contributing in a non-playing capacity, with practices and shootarounds being an optimal time for the veteran to offer his guidance and perspective.
However this wasn’t the only news we heard regarding Fred on Monday. Kelly Iko for Yahoo Sports reported that Houston plans to file a disabled player exemption which would be worth roughly $12.5 million under the current CBA.
How the exception works is the Rockets can trade for or claim a player off waivers with a salary up to $12.5M + $100K (expiring contract or final year only), or they can sign a free agent to a one-year contract with the DPE at about $12.5M. However when Houston applies for the DPE it has to be approved by a league doctor who essentially decides if they think the disabled player will be fully recovered by July 15. Additionally with only $1.3 million left over from the current payroll of about $197.7 million, they are hard-capped at the first apron ($195.9 million) and cannot raise salaries above that without trading out more than they receive in order to stay below it. Unless they make room first by trade.
What do you think? Would you rather have Fred try to return in late March/April, or would you rather Houston try to apply for the DPE, and make some moves to be able to maximize it?
