Rockets already have the final piece that will cement them as contenders

For many teams, the next six weeks leading up to the NBA trade deadline will represent a time of searching: searching for the difference-making player that will cement them as genuine contenders. For the Houston Rockets, however, their difference-making piece may have already returned.

Dorian Finney-Smith, who has been sidelined as he recovered from offseason ankle surgery, made his Rockets debut on Christmas against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Although he played just 13 minutes and took only one shot, it is clear that his skill-set is exactly what is needed to balance Houston's rotation. As a lengthy, 3-and-D player capable of filling in at both forward positions, Finney-Smith could represent the addition that most teams can only gain through trade.

Dorian Finney-Smith could be the piece that finalizes the Rockets' rotation

Although the Rockets already had a surplus of forward when they signed Finney-Smith, his hypothetical fit was almost too perfect to deny.

Last season, through 63 games between the Lakers and the Brooklyn Nets, Finney-Smith averaged 8.7 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists while shooting 41.1% from beyond the arc. His skill-set as both a defender and a capable perimeter shooter makes him the type of player that all contending teams covet.

Over the past month, in which the Rockets have dropped a number of winnable games to inferior teams, they have often lacked the burst of energy and consistent, staunch defense that has become their identity over the past couple of seasons.

Head coach Ime Udoka has made clear the starting lineup will fluctuate over the course of the season, and there will undoubtedly be times when Finney-Smith will get the starting nod. Yet his most clear impact will come off of the bench.

With both Tari Eason and Finney-Smith back in the fold, Houston will be able to counteract some of the defensive drop-off inherent to Reed Sheppard and Aaron Holiday's minutes. This will enable them to maintain a strong defensive front for a full 48 minutes: a luxury they have largely not had to this point in the season.

While a trade is not entirely off the table given the Rockets' need for an additional ball-handler, Finney-Smith could quickly prove sufficient to address many of the team's other needs. It will take him time to ramp back up, but, when he does, he could be the addition that this team requires.