New Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka told NBA reporter Zach Lowe of ESPN that he preferred signing Fred VanVleet over James Harden this offseason. The Rockets signed VanVleet to a three-year, $128 million contract instead of reuniting with Harden.
“Nothing against James,” Udoka told ESPN, “but Fred is just a better fit. I coached James in Brooklyn. He’s one of the smartest players I’ve ever been around. The words ‘Ime doesn’t want James’ never came out of my mouth. It was, ‘Let’s look at the best fit.’ If we want Jalen and the young guys to take the next steps, we need them to have the ball. As for me saying I don’t want James, that was never the case. It was about fit.”
VanVleet averaged 19.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists last season for the Toronto Raptors. He shot 39.3% from the floor, 34.2% from beyond the arc and 89.8% from the free-throw line.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Fred VanVleet, James Harden, Ime Udoka, Houston Rockets Updates
The Rockets won only 22 games last season. They haven’t made the playoffs since 2020. Udoka wants to establish a winning culture in Houston and adding VanVleet will help that cause since the guard is a proven winner who can score and facilitate at a high level.
An anonymous member of the Rockets told NBA writer Keith Smith of Spotrac in Summer League that the franchise views VanVleet as a great “organizer.” The Rockets think VanVleet is going to enhance Jalen Green and Jabari Smith Jr. in a major way.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Fred VanVleet, James Harden, Ime Udoka, Houston Rockets Updates
“Fred is going to be so great for us as an organizer,” the anonymous member of the Rockets said. “He’ll enhance Jalen, Jabari and Kevin in a big way. Some think Fred and Dillon (Brooks) are going to take reps away from the kids, but we don’t see it that way. They are going to help those guys grow up quicker than they would have otherwise. Same with Jeff Green. We’re excited about getting them in the gym with the young guys.”
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