Breakout offseason signing is playing veteran guard right off the Rockets

As the Houston Rockets have, decidedly, found their footing offensively, the emergence of Josh Okogie as not only a solid rotational player, but an effective starter, has been their most pleasantly surprising development this season.

Yet, Okogie has essentially taken on the final rotational spot on the team as he has moved into the starting backcourt, and, as veteran guard Aaron Holiday struggles to find playing time, Okogie's emergence could ultimately lead to Holiday's departure.

Both players are on one-year contracts, and Okogie could ultimately demand more than Houston would be willing to give next offseason. Yet, the possibility that Holiday's guaranteed $2.3 million salary could become a necessary trade piece this season, combined with the possibility of Okogie returning to the team next offseason, means that Holiday's departure becomes more likely by the day.

Josh Okogie has been a revelation for the Rockets so far this season

When the Rockets brought in Okogie on a minimum contract this offseason, the move was seen, by many, as one of limited consequence. Last season, between the Phoenix Suns and the Charlotte Hornets, Okogie had averaged just 15.6 minutes per game, and, although he remained an effective defender, he was certainly nearing the end of his time in the NBA.

Yet, with Houston's lack of backcourt depth and their desperate need for a perimeter shooter, Okogie has shined, averaging 8.6 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists while shooting a miraculous 45.7% from 3-point range so far this season.

Now, not only has Okogie given the Rockets the option to put out smaller lineups than they would be able to otherwise, his capable 3-and-D play has injected an extra dose of spacing that their starting lineup desperately needed.

Aaron Holiday will struggle to crack the rotation barring injury

Firstly, it must be addressed that there is a slight postional mismatch here. Okogie, throughout his career, has been more of a wing player, and is decidedly not the type of piece that can take on a point guard role like Holiday has in the past.

Yet, head coach Ime Udoka, so far this season, has shown a desire to keep his rotation tight, and, apart from Jae'Sean Tate, almost no players outside of the starters and the bench set of Reed Sheppard, Steven Adams, Clint Capela and Tari Eason have seen minutes outside of garbage time.

Nevertheless, there was always a 15 minute-per-game role to be taken on in Houston's backcourt this season following the injury to Fred VanVleet, and it appears as though Okogie has taken that and more.

Holiday did take an extensive stretch of minutes when Eason left the game against the Portland Trail Blazers in the second quarter, but it can be assumed that this was purely a result of the opening created by Eason's absence.

With Eason now set to miss 4-6 weeks with an oblique strain, it is possible that Holiday will continue to take on an increased role in his absence.

Yet, when everyone is healthy, Holiday has averaged just six minutes per game this season, compared to the 12.8 he averaged a season ago as the team's backup point guard, and he has not looked particularly effective in the time he has gotten on the court.

To be clear, a minimum contract is certainly not a massive piece in trade negotiations. Yet, given the number of mid-level deals that Houston has, some salary aggregation would be necessary were they to decide to make a move for a point guard, and Holiday, at this point, is a frankly expendable asset.

If he does not have a role, it would only be fair to allow Holiday to make the move to a team where he does have that opportunity, whether that is through a trade or through his departure next offseason.