5 NBA players everyone should be keeping a close eye on in 2023-24

5. G Fred VanVleet, Houston Rockets

There was arguably no bigger free agent signing with a new team this offseason than Fred VanVleet going to the Houston Rockets. How he performs on a young team with his newfound reaches will have a big impact on whether or not Houston can take the next step up.

After spending his entire career with the Toronto Raptors, VanVleet signed a three-year, $130 million deal with the Rockets. The contract makes him the highest-paid undrafted player in the history of the NBA.

VanVleet walks into H-Town and immediately assumes the mantle of the best player on the roster. He also has the distinction of being a veteran leader – he’s 29 years old – on a team stacked with high-end youth, such as Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr., Amen Thompson, and Cam Whitmore.

Because of his humble nature, VanVleet has never received the flowers he deserves, with just one All-Star nod to his name. But he’s been a high-caliber player for years and is coming off a season averaging 19.3 points and a career-high 7.2 assists per game. He also has a title to his name, something most of the Rockets can’t claim.

VanVleet doesn’t seem like the kind of player who will be content with the money. At the same time, he’s not going to become the peak James Harden from when he was on the Rockets. He’s a star, but he’s not a supernova.

In Houston, he’s the best they’ve got. He’s been there and he knows how to work to get to his destination. Every NBA player has had to work to get where they’re, but it’s hard not to contrast his story with those of the lottery picks on the roster.

After building from the ground up in Toronto, he’s tasked with playing a role similar to the one Kawhi Leonard played when he joined the Raptors. How VanVleet adjusts to his new surroundings makes him a player that must be watched this year.