Reed Sheppard gives the Rockets a set of uncomfortable questions they need to address

As the Houston Rockets have become a complete team offensively in the presence of Kevin Durant this season, the rapid development and confidence-building that second-year guard Reed Sheppard has undergone has been one of their most encouraging storylines.

Yet, as Sheppard continues to show flashes of his ability to reach his ceiling both as a sharpshooter and a facilitator, he will present the organization with an interesting, if not immediate, question to be answered. Is Sheppard the long-term starting point guard for the franchise?

His development has been encouraging, and, if he can continue to take strides on the defensive end of the floor, it is quite possible that he could turn into a valuable NBA player rather quickly.

However, if the Rockets are in win-now mode, would it not make sense to trade Sheppard this season for a more experienced guard before the deadline? Is he who they want to take the keys for this franchise when the time comes?

Reed Sheppard, eventually, will push the issue of his long-term value if he continues to develop at this pace

When Houston drafted Sheppard with the third overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, they knew they were getting a potentially generational sharpshooter. Yet, despite his limited run in his rookie season, Sheppard is now showing that he can be much more than that.

Not only is he shooting 47.8% from 3-point range through the team's first 12 games, but he's also averaging 4.8 assists per 36 minutes on the court and beginning to show an understanding of how to leverage the gravity he possesses with downhill drives.

At this rate, he's becoming the exact offensive threat that the team needed him to be this year, and he has been highly exciting to watch since he found his footing in his new role.

Yet, no matter what, there will always be lingering questions surrounding his defensive viability. At just 6'2" and 185 lbs, Sheppard's lack of lateral quickness and his small wingspan will prevent him from being an elite point-of-attack defender: something that is crucial for a Rockets' point guard to have given the way the team is currently constructed.

Before the VanVleet injury, the plan was clearly for Sheppard to develop slowly, coming into his own as a bench sharpshooter before shouldering any additional burden. Yet, with the Durant trade and the VanVleet injury, the Rockets' window for championship contention has suddenly narrowed.

Therefore, Sheppard's development presents a double-edged sword. If the organization does not see him as a long-term starter, would it be worth it to trade him at the peak of his value as a young player? Or, if he continues to develop, will he have a chance at taking the starting spot over from VanVleet next season? Would it then make sense to deal VanVleet's contract to bring back a player that can serve as a stopgap in the meantime?

These are not questions that need to be answered immediately, as, following their 9-3 start to the season, everything is seemingly copacetic in Houston. Nevertheless, these are questions that are almost certainly on the front office's mind as they attempt to push the team into championship contention, and those following the narrative will cling to each and every hill and valley in Sheppard's game.