After getting bounced from the playoffs by the Warriors, the Rockets have a lot to consider this summer, including whether to trade for a superstar free agent.

When Fred VanVleet left the Toronto Raptors after seven years and a championship in 2023 to join the Houston Rockets, he did so to become the veteran leader of a young, rising team in the Western Conference.

Fred VanVleet and the Houston Rockets ran out of gas. After a couple of epic performances to force a Game 7, the former Toronto Raptors point guard cooled off Sunday night as the Golden State Warriors defeated the Houston Rockets 103-89 to eliminate the Rockets from the playoffs.

While the Houston Rockets first-round loss to the Golden State Warriors could be seen as disappointing, the franchise had a realistic view of it's contention chances. NBA insider Jake Fischer reported that Houston did not view themselves as a true "championship threat" and that the team used the season to "evaluate" the roster.

The Rockets' Game 7 loss to the Warriors was historic in another respect: It's likely the last NBA playoff game to be aired by a regional sports network.

Golden State initially held a 3-1 lead but has since lost two straight to Houston, shifting momentum to the home side. It's the second Game 7 between the two squads: They also faced off in a Game 7 in the 2018 Western Conference finals. The Rockets lost that matchup after famously missing 27 straight 3-pointers.