Where Will Rockets' Fred VanVleet Rank Among Guards Next Season?

Is Houston Rockets point guard Fred VanVleet one of the best backcourt players in the NBA?

The Houston Rockets signed free agent point guard Fred VanVleet this offseason for an unprecedented amount of money, hoping he'd be a catalyst in turning the team around.

The former Toronto Raptors guard is heading into his eighth season in the league, but he's never led his team in points per game. VanVleet has high expectations to not only live up to his contract but lead the Rockets as well.

VanVleet excels at both offense and defense and should fit very well in new coach Ime Udoka's system. However, can the 2021-22 All-Star fit well enough to be among the best backcourt players in the NBA once again?

Bleacher Report predicts VanVleet finishes next season as the 24th-best guard in the association.

"Fred VanVleet is equal parts fearless and relentless," Bleacher Report writes. "He wouldn't be in this spot—inking a $130 million pact as a (generously listed?) 6'0" point guard who entered the league as an undrafted free agent—without those traits. Houston needed a culture change, and he should be the perfect leader to usher one in."

However, Bleacher Report questions if his age and shooting percentages will trouble him next season.

"He has always had trouble scoring inside the arc, and his three-point splash rate took a huge hit last season (career-worst 34.2 percent)," Bleacher Report writes. "For all that he offers as an on-court communicator and connector, he'll have trouble handling so many minutes and touches if he can't get his shooting back on track."

Nevertheless, the 29-year-old is aware of his shortcomings along with the Rockets' as well but looks forward to the future.

"Being in the spot the team is in right now, I think is really only up from here," VanVleet said on The Pivot Podcast in July. "If you add to that, put some vets in there like we did with the young crew that they got, I'm excited about some of the things we'll be able to do."

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You can follow Hunter De Siver on Twitter @HunterDeSiver.

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