No-brainer Reed Sheppard trade package is too good for the Rockets to refuse

As the Houston Rockets attempt to reconfigure their rotation this season in the wake of their loss of starting point guard Fred VanVleet, second-year guard Reed Sheppard will be asked to take on a much more significant role in the rotation.

Yet, their championship window with superstar acquisition Kevin Durant, as it stands, is closing rather quickly, and, in order to maximize this, they could be willing to make a move for Miami Heat guard Norm Powell according to Bleacher Report's Zach Buckley.

While Powell, 32, does not have the type of playmaking that Houston truly needs, his breakout season last year with the Los Angeles Clippers indicates that he could perhaps be the offensive boon that the team needs to catapult themselves back into championship contention.

Reed Sheppard-Norm Powell trade could be too good for the Rockets to refuse

Last season, as the Rockets surged to the second seed in the Western Conference, the problem that still plagued them was their half-court offense. Although they assembled one of the best defensive teams in the league, they were largely unable to assemble a championship-level offensive game, leading to their defeat in the first round of the playoffs against the Golden State Warriors.

Now, as they try to lock in their backcourt with some combination of Amen Thompson, Reed Sheppard, Aaron Holiday, Josh Okogie and perhaps even Kevin Durant depending on how the starting line-up shakes out, they could desperately use another scorer to help bolster their chances.

According to Buckley, Houston could address this need by sending Reed Sheppard, Steven Adams and two second round picks for Powell: "Maybe [Durant's timeline] would nudge the Rockets toward Powell, who has routinely popped as an efficient off-ball play-finisher in recent years and would fit comfortably into the 2 slot if Houston decides to start Amen Thompson at the 1."

Last season, through 60 games with the Clippers, Powell averaged 21.8 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists while shooting 41.8% from 3-point range.

If there's anything that the Rockets need, it's perimeter shooting ability and veteran presence: both of which Powell provides in abundance.

Moreover, moving on from Sheppard would grant them an additional degree of financial certainty in future seasons as they attempt to lock down the rest of their young core, enabling them to capitalize on his potential while they still can. While Adams cannot be moved until December 15 as a result of his extension this offseason, the team also signed Clint Capela, who could step into Adams's role relatively quickly.

Additionally, Norm Powell's expiring salary could make him a relatively pain-free rental for Houston if things don't work out this season, meaning that this could be a sufficient package to entice them to move off of Sheppard if the opportunity presents itself.