Many believe that the Rockets are one of the top contenders for the NBA championship this upcoming season, following the flurry of key moves they’ve made this offseason.
Save for their historic acquisition of Kevin Durant, Houston also re-signed Fred VanVleet, Steven Adams, and Jabari Smith Jr., among others. However, one of their key players is in danger of missing next season entirely, as VanVleet recently sustained a torn ACL, leaving Houston with a huge gap to fill in the point guard position.
Elsewhere, the Heat also suffered an injury blow to Tyler Herro, who’s expected to miss the beginning of next season due to surgery. His absence doesn’t help Miami’s NBA 2025 odds of competing for a playoff berth this year.
Last but not least, the Warriors remain one of the biggest losers this offseason, as they have yet to find a resolution in the ongoing Jonathan Kuminga saga.
Here are some of the notable NBA 2025 updates, courtesy of SBOTOP.
VanVleet could miss the entire 2025-26 season
As mentioned, the Rockets suffered a huge injury blow to the backcourt, as Fred VanVleet sustained a torn ACL during a recent offseason workout. The one-time NBA champion was a key player behind the team’s turnaround from a lottery team to a Top 2 seed in the Western Conference last season during his two years with the team. VanVleet signed a two-year, $50 million extension with the Rockets, including a player option in 2026-27.
Last season, VanVleet averaged 14.1 points on 37.8-per cent shooting from the field across 60 regular season appearances, his fewest since 2018-19. However, he upped his scoring in the postseason, averaging 18.7 points per game on 43.0-per cent shooting from the field.
With VanVleet out indefinitely, the Rockets will need Reed Sheppard, who barely played last season, to step up with Aaron Holiday as his backup, while Amen Thompson could play point guard from time to time. Barring a trade, the Rockets cannot fill their open roster spot with a free agent because they’re $1.25 million below the first apron.
Heat suffer lineup blow after Herro’s surgery
Tyler Herro recently underwent surgery on his left foot, so he’s expected to miss approximately the first eight weeks of the 2025-26 season, or the Heat’s first 12 regular season matches. Herro dealt with an impingement in his left foot last term, and he sustained an ankle injury during an offseason workout that reportedly led to the decision to undergo surgery.
“Imma tear the league back down once I get off this weak a** bed,” Herro posted on his Instagram story after undergoing surgery.
Herro was the Heat’s top scorer last term, having averaged 23.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 5.5 assists on 47.2-per cent shooting from the field across 77 regular season starts. This was good enough for him to earn his maiden NBA All-Star selection. Miami qualified for the playoffs via the play-in tournament but were swept by Cleveland in the first round.
This offseason, the Heat brought in Norman Powell and Simone Fontecchio, while re-signing Davion Mitchell to a two-year contract extension and selecting Kasparas Jakucionis in this summer’s NBA Draft. With Herro sidelined, Powell, who is coming off a career year with the Clippers, is expected to assume a heavier offensive workload alongside Bam Adebayo, Andrew Wiggins, and Kel’el Ware.
Wiggins was recently linked to a potential trade to the Lakers, but Herro’s untimely injury should be compelling enough for the Heat’s front office not to pull the trigger.
Warriors’ Kuminga talks continue to stall
The Warriors have yet to complete a free agent signing due to their protracted saga involving Jonathan Kuminga. According to reports, Golden State offered Kuminga a three-year, $75.2 million contract with a team option for the third year, but the one-time NBA champion wants the team option to be changed into a player option.
The 22-year-old swingman reportedly wants to secure a lucrative contract to play for another team, as he doesn’t fit into the Warriors’ timeline, with the team built around veterans Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green. The Kings wanted to do a sign-and-trade to acquire Kuminga from the Warriors, but the deal never came close to fruition. Time is ticking between the two parties, as Kuminga has to take the team’s qualifying offer by October 1. Either a new deal between the two parties will be worked out by then, or Kuminga will pick up the offer and play out this season with the Warriors before becoming an unrestricted free agent next year.
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