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Fred VanVleet is highly likely to remain with the Houston Rockets next season, according to both team and league sources. The Rockets could pick up their $44.9 million team option on VanVleet, or they could decline it to negotiate a longer term contract at a lesser annual average.

VanVleet would like to remain with the Rockets, who have a good working relationship with his agents Rich Paul and Andy Miller. 

VanVleet averaged 14.1 points, 3.7 rebounds and 5.6 assists in 35.2 minutes over 60 games in his second season with the Rockets. During the 2023 offseason, VanVleet signed a three-year, $130 million contract with the Rockets after the team pivoted away from James Harden as an option with their cap space. In early May, VanVleet and the Rockets agreed to push back their option deadline to June 29th.

Via Kelly Iko/The Athletic

I think this article is incorrect.

They probably pushed the deadline in case they need his salary for a trade at the draft, for example for Durant. Otherwise they will waive him or lowball him.

If they wanted him so badly they would've extended already imo.

Assuming his deal guarantees if he’s traded, he’ll be gone by July 14 when the moratorium ends.

His nickname should be “Cap Smoothing” if he thinks he getting anything close to that cheque from the Rockets.