Fred VanVleet Is the Marquee Piece of Houston's Active Offseason

Ime Udoka became the head coach of the Houston Rockets with a goal of changing the team for the better, and the Rockets have made their biggest change yet on the player-personnel side with the signing of Fred VanVleet, who inked a three-year, $130 million deal to leave the Toronto Raptors.

He's the key piece of what's been a busy offseason for Houston. The Rockets also signed former Memphis Grizzlies guard Dillon Brooks to a four-year, $80 million contract.

Fred VanVleet's Outlook With the Rockets

The 29-year-old VanVleet joins a young Rockets team that has the likes of Kevin Porter Jr. and Jalen Green as two players who have shown exciting potential. Add in the 4th and 20th overall selections Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore, respectively, and the future is pretty bright.

Bringing in VanVleet gives Houston a former All-Star and a veteran presence who can help their young core.

Over the past three seasons, VanVleet has averaged 19.8 points, 6.8 assists, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game. His win shares per 48 in the last two years are .131 and .123.

FVV isn't going to transform the team into an instant contender, but he is going to add a lot to Udoka's team and will help set the Rockets in the right direction.

Betting Odds Impact

The additions of VanVleet and Brooks to the Rockets did move the needle for Houston -- even if they're still a longshot.

The Rockets are now set at +35000 odds to win the NBA Championship, per the NBA Finals odds at FanDuel Sportsbook. Those odds tie them with the Orlando Magic and Indiana Pacers. Houston's odds before the additions of VanVleet and Brooks were at +50000, which tied them with the Washington Wizards, Charlotte Hornets, and Detroit Pistons.

The big move in odds reflects the market's appreciation for what Houston has done. Depending on the growth of Porter and Green, the Rockets could make for a fun team under Udoka this season. With the play-in, you never know. The Miami Heat proved that one.

The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.