On October 21, 2026, Fred VanVleet returned for the Rockets in a win over the Mavericks, posting six points, 11 assists and a plus-19 in 30 minutes, while Kyrie Irving played his first game since March 3, 2025, scoring 15 on 6-of-9. The discussion credits VanVleet's pick-and-roll organization for Houston's easy threes. Irving is in the last year of his deal with a player option, and teams are monitoring him if Dallas isn't contending, leaving open whether he is still a Maverick at the trade deadline.