Heading into the last offseason, the Houston Rockets made a strategic move to bolster their team with veteran leadership. This led to the signings of Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks to lucrative long-term contracts. Despite missing out on Brook Lopez, the Rockets saw a significant improvement in their performance, finishing the season with 41 wins, a notable increase from the previous season's 22 wins.
VanVleet, in particular, signed a substantial three-year, $128.54 million contract, earning $40.81 million in the 2023-2024 season with a projected increase to $42.85 million next season. The team holds a crucial option for the final year of VanVleet's contract in 2025-2026, where he could potentially earn $44.89 million at the age of 31.
