The Houston Rockets set off fireworks in the days leading up to the NBA Draft. In what may end up being the biggest move of the offseason, Kevin Durant now plays in Houston. While the draft itself didn't provide any other additional support for Durant on his new team, free agency is only a week away. While the Rockets have a solid rotation, there's always room for improvement.
The Rockets' depth chart became a little bit thinner with the subtraction of Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green. Brooks provided three-point shooting and a defensive tenacity while Green provided instant offense. The addition of Durant was an obvious move for a team ready to push itself into a position to compete for a championship, but it didn't leave the team without some areas for improvement.
One such place is offense off the bench from the guard position. Reed Sheppard was inconsistent in his rookie year and is still developing to the pro game. Aaron Holiday is a free agent, and Houston may opt to not pick up his club option for next season. That means the team may look to free agency to find some bench scoring and could look to a former teammate of Durant's and former Rocket to fill that void.
The Rockets Should Sign Russell Westbrook for Guard Depth
You read that right. Russell Westbrook. It's not even that crazy. Westbrook went through the growing pains of the transition from MVP and All-Star to 6th Man over the past four seasons. From a person who previously blamed coming off the bench for causing an injury to eventually volunteering for the role, Westbrook has shown growth in the latter portion of his career and could fit the bench role in Houston.
Westbrook can still score (although his efficiency could be better) and is still an excellent distributor, having averaged 13 points and 6 assists a game last season. That's the type of player teams should look for coming off the bench.
Why a Westbrook-Durant Reunion Won’t Play Out Like Harden-Westbrook
A Westbrook-Durant reunion would be poetic, for sure. Fans have already seen the Durant-Harden and Harden-Wesbrook reunions. While those weren't particularly successful, injury and timing may have contributed to the lack of success more than anything. When Durant and Harden were with the Nets, injury was the biggest culprit. Harden and Westbrook struggled in large part due to culture and their ball dominant approaches to the game.
Durant and Westbrook don't necessarily face the same issues. If Durant and Westbrook stay healthy, the two have already worked together in tandem early in their career and were successful. With maturity and individual accolades taking a back seat, the two would likely find success together again.
The free agent class of guards does not provide a clear option for a top-8 rotation piece. Westbrook has shown the ability to take on the role and was particularly successful working with the Nuggets last season. This could be a perfect match and a second set of fireworks the Rockets set off this offseason.