Houston Rockets: 3 big questions heading into 2019-20

3. Will the combination of Westbrook and Harden work?

With the James Harden-Chris Paul saga coming to an end, the Harden-Russell Westrbook chapter is just getting started. Re-uniting the two OKC draftees could be the greatest move in Houston Rockets history or the worst move for many years to come.

To invest in the present, the Rockets gave away much of their future in terms of draft picks. This is the right move with Harden playing the way he is, but the  cost needs to be worth it.

There were several players available during the offseason, but the Rockets did not make many moves in free agency. Instead, they chose to make a trade to rid themselves of Paul while getting a player who could make an immediate impact with their current superstar. Not a bad move at all.

The big question surrounding Harden and Westbrook’s compatibility is their style of play. They both enjoying bringing the ball up the court and controlling the pace of the game.

In terms of generating offense and balancing their attack, Harden and Westbrook will have to find ways to co-exist. This is the big reason many believe this combination may not work.

Harden is the better shooter and Westbrook will need to take a back seat. He was the primary option after Kevin Durant left OKC, and he struggled to take his team to the next level even with MVP candidate Paul George.

He has never been an elite shooter, but he plays plenty of minutes. As he joins his new teammates in Houston, he will need to carve out a new role if he hopes to fight for an NBA title.

As an individual player, Westbrook continues to struggle from the free throw line. His percentage of 65.6 is abysmal for someone who likes to drive to the basket so often.

On top of that, his turnovers per game (4.5) was second to only one other player, Harden (5.0). With the similarities coming to a head, the Rockets coaching staff will need to work extremely hard in developing appropriate roles for their stars.

With the addition of Westbrook, there is no question that the Rockets are a better team. The major differences will come when it matters. The NBA playoffs, especially in the West, have proven to be a grueling process.

For the Rockets to have any chance at winning it all, figuring out how to utilize Harden and Westbrook will make or break their NBA title hopes. No pressure.