Home run free agent signing could change everything for the Rockets

As the Houston Rockets have found themselves with a 3-2 record after five games, their offense has finally, for the most part, found its groove, with the team's offseason acquisition of Kevin Durant paying immediate and tangible dividends.

Yet, a player who has not even set foot on the court yet, Dorian Finney-Smith, could still be the missing piece that will allow this team to find its final form, and his 3-and-D skillset could become increasingly vital as the season wears on.

Although Houston's rotation is laden with depth and versatility, they need an extra perimeter shooter to carve out spacing when Durant is not on the floor, and Finney-Smith could be the perfect player to accomplish that.

While it is still unclear when exactly he will return, as he is still rehabbing from an offseason ankle surgery he underwent, his return could provide an extra injection on both ends of the floor that could make a huge difference for this team.

Dorian Finney-Smith's 3-and-D skillset could make all the difference for the Rockets

As the Rockets navigated the offseason, one thing was clear; they were seeking to add depth behind their new-look, Durant-led starting lineup.

Accordingly, the team both re-signed Steven Adams, who played an instrumental role last season in allowing Houston to lean into their size advantage against mismatched opponents, and extended a three-year, $21.5 million deal to Clint Capela to increase their depth in this capacity.

Yet, their signing of Finney-Smith to a four-year, $53 million deal went somewhat under the radar, especially given the impact he is capable of having on a contending team.

Last season, through 63 games between the Brooklyn Nets and the Los Angeles Lakers, Finney-Smith averaged 8.7 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists while shooting 41.1% from beyond the arc. While Finney-Smith has not always been the most productive player throughout the course of his career, his archetype is one that teams covet.

As it stands, the Rockets are first in the NBA in 3P%, having shot exceedingly well from that range as their offense has found its footing.

Yet, in losing both Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green in the Durant trade and losing Fred VanVleet to injury this season, the team is now missing three of its most viable perimeter shooters. It is likely that the shooting luck they have been experiencing will, at some point, run out, and the team will need an additional presence to help fill that void.

Moreover, Finney-Smith is an extremely capable defender, meaning that he will fit right into Houston's defense-by-committee mindset.

Therefore, as good as the Rockets have looked over their past few games without Finney-Smith seeing any action, he could make a massive impact when he does eventually suit up for the team.