For a split second, rumors were spurring that the Houston Rockets would first make a trade for the sole purpose of shedding salary, then sign Russell Westbrook to replace Fred VanVleet for the season. This made more sense than another guard like Ben Simmons, as Westbrook is a former Rocket and someone Kevin Durant has experience playing with.
However, Houston's training camp starts next week, and they would need enough time to go through the sequence and have medical physicals completed. Thus, because nothing has happened, the assumption is that the Rockets will wait and see how Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard do in the backcourt.
In the regular season, the promising guard combo could thrive, proving to Houston's front office that the addition of Westbrook is unnecessary. Regardless, in the playoffs, neither has a background, which will have a detrimental impact on Durant's one-year trial.
That said, Westbrook is an option, but so is someone else, who is guaranteed to thrive next season if given the keys to a larger role on a championship-contending roster.
Houston's last resort should be to trade with Miami for Norman Powell at the deadline
After hearing that Tyler Herro will need approximately eight weeks to recuperate, the Miami Heat will need Norman Powell's three-level scoring. He could swim well above water by dominating, but if he sinks, the Heat will want him out of Miami before his free agency campaign begins.
On the contrary, if the Houston Rockets want someone more capable than Westbrook, they should give Powell a look. He is still in his prime and would play in the perfect role as the second scoring option next to Kevin Durant.
Furthermore, the Rockets will need Powell to save their postseason hopes and perform up to par so that Durant decides to sign a multi-year contract with the franchise and conclude his career in the same state where he played college basketball.
Powell will surely strive to multitask and dominate, as his performances could also mean a payday for himself. This is what he will have wanted from the LA Clippers and Heat.
That said, trading for Powell will be the last option, but the saying, 'save the best for last,' applies perfectly here. Houston would also realize that, even though he is in his 30s, the former UCLA Bruin must be included as a building block alongside Alperen Şengün and Amen Thompson.