Kevin Durant fans the flames for a potentially disastrous Rockets reunion

As the Houston Rockets enter the season, their most dire need rests in finding a veteran point guard who can take on reliable minutes in the absence of Fred VanVleet: a proposition that has been made even more difficult by their proximity to the second apron.

Yet, although, according to Durant's comments on this morning's episode of Up & Adams, Houston's star player is open to the thought of a reunion with controversial guard Russell Westbrook, such a signing could be disastrous for the team given his inconsistent style of play.

If Houston is going to seek out a guard this season, it must be one who can give the team the spacing it needs and keep a level head as the pressure closes in upon them in the playoffs. While Westbrook has a historical place among athletic and entertaining guards, he is not that at this point in his career, and the Rockets must ignore any temptation to follow the narrative that Durant has laid out.

Rockets must ignore the temptation for a Russell Westbrook reunion once they are able to make a signing

As Westbrook finished his 17th NBA season, he declined his player option with the Denver Nuggets, instead looking to seek out a better contract based upon his peformance last season. However, as the preseason has already begun, Westbrook remains unsigned and appears likely to wait to sign with a team until a need exposes itself around the league.

Accordingly, speculation has flowed that the Rockets could use the exception they will be granted in the wake of VanVleet's injury to sign Westbrook, and Durant, in response to this speculation, gave an encouraging answer: "Russ is a legend. I think he deserves to be in the NBA right now.... Yeah, [a reunion] would be dope. But it's not my decision. Leaving that up to whoever makes those decisions for now."

Westbrook, through 75 games last season with the Nuggets, certainly still put up NBA-level production, averaging 13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 6.1 assists while shooting 44.9% from the field. Yet, his erratic style of play leaves him as a non-ideal fit for many NBA teams who need more of a dependable creator as the leader of their bench unit.

For the Rockets, who are set to start some combination of young guards Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard this season, a gamble on Westbrook somehow gelling with this team is not a luxury they can afford.

To be fair, seeing Durant and Westbrook relive their Oklahoma City days would be something that almost every NBA fan would like to see.

However, although Durant, with his typical laid-back manner, has hinted at his interest in a reunion, the team must either hold out hope that Sheppard and Thompson can get the job done or must wait patiently for the right guard to become available to them.

If they rush the process for nostalgia's sake, they could end up only harming themselves in the end.