Fred VanVleet’s season-ending ACL injury last year exposed a glaring lack of point guard depth for the Houston Rockets. Offseason roster moves, however, have quickly turned a major positional weakness into a true strength.
On July 10, Houston officially signed Marcus Smart to a two-year deal, instantly clearing that void by providing a proven lead guard for the secondary unit. Smart brings an established relationship with head coach Ime Udoka from their shared 2021–22 season in Boston, where Smart won Defensive Player of the Year.
In preseason action, Smart looked sharp and fully integrated, setting a physical tone on defense, organizing floor spacing, and orchestrating the second unit with poise. As the bench's primary ball-handler, his elevated basketball IQ, vocal leadership, and extensive postseason mileage give Houston the poise needed to transform regular-season leads into late-game stability.
To round out the backcourt, Houston aggressively traded up in this summer’s NBA draft to select Ohio State guard Bruce Thornton with the 31st overall pick. While Thornton may see limited rotation minutes early in the schedule outside of blowout situations, his upside is unmistakable.
Thornton stood out as Houston’s top player throughout Summer League, dominating games with high-level decision-making, scoring efficiency, and physical point-of-attack defense.
He carried that momentum straight into exhibition play, turning in a series of composed, low-turnover preseason performances. Through his leadership, defensive toughness, and poise on the ball, Thornton has demonstrated that he possesses tools needed to carve out a long-term role as a regular-season contributor.
Slated to resume his role as Houston’s starting point guard, Fred VanVleet returns fully. With his top-tier situational control, VanVleet is one of the most secure facilitators in the league, consistently making smart decisions and keeping turnover numbers minimal.
He proved that his floor vision had not rusted in his exhibition debut, knocking down five three-pointers and dishing out assists while committing just a single turnover in limited minutes. His combination of deep range and mistake-free orchestration once again gives the Rockets a steady hand at the helm.
With Smart anchoring the second unit and Thornton in the wings, the Rockets have rebuilt their point guard rotation into a deep, defensive-minded engine capable of sustaining pressure for forty-eight minutes.
With a healthy Fred VanVleet leading the way, Marcus Smart anchoring the bench, and Bruce Thornton waiting in the wings, Houston's point guard depth has gone from a major vulnerability to a genuine strength. Will this upgraded backcourt rotation be enough to propel the Rockets into true championship contention this season?