ESPN analyst says quiet part out loud about Kevin Durant's best role on the Rockets

As the Houston Rockets attempt to revitalize their offense around superstar acquisition Kevin Durant, he will need to play a variety of roles for the team, most importantly taking over responsibilities as a go-to scorer in clutch minutes.

Yet, according to ESPN Analyst Tim Legler, Durant's best role with the Rockets does not involve him dominating the ball but instead remaining an effective scorer while allowing the rest of the team's young talent to operate around him.

Although Durant can certainly still score at a superstar level, which he proved yet again last season with the Phoenix Suns, his ideal role could involve taking a step back this season.

Kevin Durant could ironically need to score less for the Rockets this season

Last season, through 62 games with the Suns, Durant averaged 26.6 points, six rebounds and 4.2 assists, shooting 43% from 3-point range and receiving his 15th nod to the All-Star Game.

Yet, according to Legler, there might be a sweet spot for Durant offensively that would allow him to acclimate perfectly into Houston's offensive system: "If Durant averages 28 [points] again... I don't know if that's the best thing for the Rockets. Maybe this is a year where Kevin Durant averages 23 or 24... That might be the best way for this team to operate offensively."

No matter what, Durant is going to continue to be one of the most efficient scorers in the NBA, and this is the exact reason why the Rockets shelled out what they did to acquire him.

As a lethal mid-range and perimeter shooter, Durant provides something that Houston lacked last season: a go-to scorer when they most need it.

Yet, if Durant dominates the ball this season, that will result in a drop in touches for other players such as Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson, and the team could need to distribute the ball more evenly in order to keep their offense alive.

A massive part of the Rockets' strength rests in just how much young talent they have, and their continued development has to be of serious interest to the organization. Yet, the team's aims season also lie beyond just the development of those players. They want to contend for a championship.

Therefore, Durant might need to take a step back, averaging three or four less shots a game, in order to allow this offense to reach its full form. While it might seem counterintuitive to not be constantly feeding the ball to your best player, Houston has enough talent that it could make Durant's game even more lethal.