Eight 3-and-D players the Houston Rockets should target

5. Garrett Temple

Garrett Temple is the most tenured player on this list, as the 33-year-old is currently playing in his tenth year in the league. Temple has traveled around the league and has played for nine different teams, including a short stint with the Houston Rockets during his rookie season.

Temple is a career 34.8 percent shooter from deep and is currently averaging 10.3 points per game. Temple has shown the versatility to play either the guard or forward spots on the floor, due in large part to his 6-foot-5 frame.

Temple is shooting 32.4 percent from downtown this season, which is the lowest he’s shot from long-range since the 2013-14 season. In spite of that, he’d have the green light to fire away from downtown in Houston and would seem to benefit from playing alongside two passers in Harden and Westbrook.

Temple has also shown the ability to be a good defender, as he has averages 1.2 defensive win shares this season, which ranks 118th in the league. From a contractual standpoint, Temple is making $4.7 million this season, which means the Rockets would have to trade Nene, Gerald Green (or Thabo Sefolosha) and Chris Clemons to make the salaries match.

Temple’s presence would allow the Rockets to reduce the minutes of PJ Tucker, and he would also fit into Mike D’Antoni’s small-ball lineups. On top of that, MDA has shown a preference for playing veterans, which Temple certainly is.

Next: No. 4