NBA Notes: Rockets, Fred VanVleet, Heat, Andrew Wiggins, Bulls

Rockets

The Rockets have watched Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard take major steps this season, which has made the idea of backcourt reinforcements less urgent.

Even so, Houston still has a decision to make before February 5. Yossi Gozlan of The Third Apron wrote that the front office must determine whether it fully trusts Fred VanVleet to return from his ACL tear and make a real impact next season.

If there is any doubt, a trade remains on the table.

The challenge is finding the right player. Gozlan noted that someone like Derrick White would be an ideal fit, but Boston is not expected to make him available. More attainable options such as Collin Sexton or Dennis Schroder may not move the needle enough to justify the assets required.

Houston has the young talent and the picks to make something happen, but only if the payoff is meaningful.

Heat

The Heat entered the season viewed as possible sellers, but that narrative has shifted.

Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints wrote that Miami is now widely seen as a buyer ahead of the deadline. Andrew Wiggins has drawn interest around the league, but Siegel reported that the Heat are unlikely to move him unless the return clearly upgrades the roster.

Miami has dealt with injuries and inconsistency, but the belief around the league is that Pat Riley and Erik Spoelstra will look to add, not subtract.

Bulls

After a hot start, the Bulls are sliding again, and the front office may have to confront what comes next.

Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times argued that Chicago should consider doing right by Nikola Vucevic and finding him a playoff-caliber destination.

The veteran center will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, and Cowley wrote that giving him another postseason opportunity would be a respectable, forward-thinking move for both sides.

Chicago’s direction has been questioned for years, and this season has not brought much clarity.

A Vucevic trade would signal a real shift, but it may also be the cleanest path toward reshaping the roster.