Two years and $50 million! VanVleet has reached a mutually beneficial extension with the Rockets, teaming up with Durant for a championship run.

On June 26, Beijing time, just days after the NBA Finals concluded and hours before the draft began, 31-year-old VanVleet's team option worth $44.9 million for next season will not be exercised. The Rockets have agreed to a new contract worth $50 million over two years, which includes a player option for the 2026-27 season.

At 31, VanVleet has expressed his desire to remain in Houston both publicly and privately, and his role in the team's near future has never been in doubt. General Manager Rafael Stone and Head Coach Ime Udoka have also shown support for retaining this guard—he brings calmness and control to a previously chaotic Rockets team.

According to data from Cleaning the Glass, the Rockets had a net rating of +3.2 when VanVleet was on the court during the regular season, a figure that surpasses 71% of players in the league. This accurately reflects the veteran's value: despite a slight drop in his statistics (average points down by 3.3, assists down by 2.5, and a 4% decrease in three-point shooting), he remains composed while handling the ball. VanVleet's ball security rate exceeds that of 94% of players in the league.

On the defensive end, VanVleet continues to be a positive contributor for both himself and the team. The Rockets urgently need his aggression on offense, insight into passing lanes, and ability to create turnovers.

With Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks traded to the Suns for Durant, VanVleet will share more responsibilities with Sengun and Amen Thompson to address the Rockets' struggles in half-court offense. However, the team believes that the presence of multiple NBA champions will continue to elevate the standards in the locker room and on the court. Rockets executives are hopeful that with Durant's addition, the offensive system will flow more smoothly, alleviating some of VanVleet's scoring burden and allowing him to focus on being a facilitator.

The structure of this contract provides flexibility for both parties—

For VanVleet, he will have the opportunity to return to the negotiating table in a year—whether to sign a longer contract with the Rockets or to move to another team.

According to league sources, several Eastern Conference teams have been monitoring VanVleet's situation in case he becomes an unlikely unrestricted free agent.

For the Rockets, re-signing VanVleet for $25 million annually is reasonable, especially considering the looming contract extension pressures for Durant, Jabari Smith Jr., and Tari Eason, and even if the Rockets choose to extend Amen Thompson a year early, they will need to plan for salary cap space.

In the recently concluded 2024-25 season, the Rockets secured 52 wins, locking in the second seed in the Western Conference and ending a four-year playoff drought.

During the 2024-25 season, VanVleet averaged 14.1 points, the lowest since the 2018-19 season, but posted an impressive 18.7 points per game in the playoffs. Although the Rockets were eliminated by the Warriors in the first round after seven games, VanVleet's performance was noteworthy—over the last four games of the series, he averaged 24.3 points, with a shooting percentage of 56% and a three-point shooting percentage of 64%.