It's rather simple to see why the Rockets needed to extend to a third year in order to secure VanVleet, a player who is both a massive upgrade for Houston while also standing as a noted tier or two below the game's truly elite point guards. The Raptors reportedly made a late push to keep VanVleet in his only NBA home to date, but ultimately, Houston's cap space—and willingness to spend it—won out.
So, will Houston's summer splurge be worthwhile as the franchise desperately looks to move into "Phase 2" of its extended rebuild? For 2023-24, there's little question that will be the case.