The Houston Rockets fanbase entered the 2025 NBA playoffs with so much hope; their rebuild has finally bore fruit in the form of being the second-seed in the stacked Western Conference after winning 52 games in the regular season. But all the Rockets got as a reward for their troubles was a first-round matchup against their archnemesis, the Golden State Warriors — a team they haven't yet beaten in four previous tries in the playoffs.

Fans thought that since this is the dawn of a new era, perhaps they can break their duck against the Stephen Curry-led Warriors. But there always seems to be an air of inevitability surrounding an eventual Warriors series win whenever the Rockets match up against them. And on Sunday night, what started out as such a promising season for the Rockets has come to an end after they suffered a 103-89 loss in Game 7.

At this point, the heartbreak the Rockets fans are feeling are tinged with a sense of helplessness, and they couldn't help but express their disappointment over seeing their season end at the hands of the Warriors for the fifth time since 2015.

“As a lifelong rockets fan, I deserve better. I had to watch James Harden choke year after year and now I have to watch Sengun and Jalen Green do the same. Amen, Jabari, Tari, and Reed all the real core. Trade Sengun and Jalen Green asap,” X user @sextonhater wrote.

“Different year. Same story. Houston rockets. No different than when James left,” @7Bkillin added.

“Had all the physical advantages going into this game. But came up small in the big moments,” @ruben197376 furthered.

At the very least, the Rockets' future is bright and they can perhaps resume their star-hunting ways (a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade perhaps?) this offseason. But the sting of another playoff series loss to the Warriors will linger long into the night.

Rockets fans turn on Jalen Green

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The Houston Rockets invested heavily into Fred VanVleet during the 2023 offseason. Houston gave the point guard a three-year, $128 million deal in a move that was meant to turn the Rockets from a rebuilding team into a championship contending one. The signing did just that, as the Rockets finished the 2024-25 regular season as the two-seed in a stacked Western Conference. VanVleet was the veteran presence and 3-point shooter that the team desperately needed, and he still might have a role with the Rockets going forward. Houston has a team option on his contract for next year, and they very well may pick it up. The Wichita State product reportedly wants to stay in Houston, but the point guard would be set to make over $44 million next season under his current contract. The Rockets and their guard recently pushed back the deadline on Houston's decision with VanVleet, and although reports suggest that they are interested in writing up a new, long-term deal, it isn't necessarily a guarantee that VanVleet will be playing for Houston next year. The Rockets blew him away with an offer he couldn't refuse back in 2023, and another team could so the same when/if he hits the open market this offseason. If VanVleet does become an unrestricted free agent, which teams outside of Houston would make the most sense for him to sign with? 1. Orlando Magic Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner recently signed big deals with the Orlando Magic, and Paolo Banchero will be getting a mega contract extension here soon. Because of that, the Magic no longer have money to blow like they have had in recent years. That will make a deal for another big ticket free agent hard to pull off, especially considering the team signed Kentavious Caldwell-Pope last year. If Orlando can make the money work, though, then Fred VanVleet would be a great fit with the Magic. The Magic finished dead last in 3-point shooting this season, and VanVleet has made at least 2.5 deep balls per game in every season since 2018-19. VanVleet can hit shots form behind the arc off of the bounce or in catch-and-shoot situations. The Rockets were heavily reliant on his shooting expertise, so the guard would have plenty of familiarity getting up deep shots with high volume if he signed with the Magic. While undersized, VanVleet is a pesky defender, so he'd fit right in with a Magic team that has one of the best defensive units in the league. VanVleet could play alongside Suggs and give opposing teams fits. Ultimately, though, the Magic just need more shooting to get to the next level, and VanVleet is arguably the best shooter who could be available on the open market this offseason. 2. Brooklyn Nets A more realistic option for a VanVleet destination would be the Brooklyn Nets. The Nets are set up to have the most cap space this offseason, and they have a major need at point guard. With D'Angelo Russell and De'Anthony Melton hitting free agency this offseason, the Nets don't have a true point guard under contract for next season. Brooklyn needs to spend big this offseason, and they'd be smart to offer VanVleet a contract big enough that he'd have no choice but to leave Houston. VanVleet averaged 14.1 points per game last season, which was his lowest mark since 2018-19. He is trending the wrong way, but he still has enough left in the tank to give the Nets a few good seasons. 3. Portland Trail Blazers In the same way that the Rockets were looking to take the next step in 2023, the Portland Trail Blazers could use VanVleet's presence to get over the hump. The Trail Blazers have plenty of big man depth, as centers Deandre Ayton, Donovan Clingan, Robert Williams, and Duop Death are all under contract next season. Portland also has a lot of wing depth. Deni Advija started to look like a star late this past season, Toumani Camara is an elite defender, Shaedon Sharpe is a freakish athlete, and Jerami Grant is a proven scorer. The team is thinner in the backcourt, though. Anfernee Simons is a solid scorer, but Scoot Henderson has looked like a fringe draft bust since being drafted third overall. Portland shouldn't give up on Henderson completely, but there wouldn't be any harm in signing another guard. Like the Magic, the Blazers were one of the worst 3-point shooting teams in the NBA. VanVleet would improve that weakness, and in a stacked Western Conference, Portland needs all of the help they can get if they are to compete for a playoff spot.
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Jalen Green, the second overall pick of the 2021 NBA Draft, has long been highly-regarded for his offensive potential. But Green fell flat against the Warriors; he shot 31.1 percent from the field outside of his 38-point explosion in Game 2, which simply won't cut it.

As a result, emotional Rockets fans are calling for the team to trade the 23-year-old guard away.

“Thank you Rockets! Time to trade Jalen Green for picks and let Amen be our 2 guard. Addition by subtraction it is,” @madclownpacasum suggested.

“TRADE JALEN BUST GREEN,” @SantiiFerretto added.

“Trade that bum Jalen green and build around Amen,” @CjStarkk furthered.