Houston Rockets

Jae'Sean Tate

F

Tate picked up the knee injury during Saturday's matchup against the Knicks, and he's now looking at a multi-week absence. Coach Ime Udoka noted that the typical timeline for a return from this type of injury is 4-to-6 weeks, but the team will re-assess in two weeks. Josh Okogie and Dorian Finney-Smith will presumably be asked to pick up the slack while Tate is sidelined.

Steven Adams

C

Adams was already viewed as out indefinitely with a Grade 3 sprain, but now he won't be able to return during the 2025-26 campaign. The veteran big man is under contract with Houston through the 2027-28 season. With Adams' year now over, Clint Capela and Dorian Finney-Smith are set to split the backup center duties behind Alperen Sengun.

Fred VanVleet

G

VanVleet struggled with efficiency during his second season in Houston, but the Rockets' win-loss record with him on the court (41-19) spoke volumes about his overall impact on the team. With VanVleet sidelined, the runway is clear for Reed Sheppard, who barely had a role as a rookie. Amen Thompson could also handle a ton of ball-handling responsibilities, while Aaron Holiday is the only other true point guard on the roster currently.