Rockets may have answer to pressing question on their summer league roster

The Houston Rockets are lacking guard depth, but they have a talented floor general on their Summer League roster. No, not Reed Sheppard: It's time for them to give Kennedy Chandler some consideration.

So far, he's been dazzling in Summer League play. Chandler is averaging 17.5 points per game in his two contests. His performance against the Clippers was particularly impressive. Chandler had 22 points on 7/14 shooting from the field.

Could he perform well against NBA defenses?

Chandler is a talented prospect Rockets should look at

It's hard to say.

In one respect, Chandler is antithetical to what the Rockets are building: He's small. At 6'0", this is an undersized player by any standard.

If you've got any other good reason why Chandler couldn't succeed, you'd be the first.

It's worth noting that Chandler is a pesky defender at his size. Offensively, he's a creative playmaker who uses his speed to penetrate to the hole. He also shot 38.3% from deep for Tennessee as a prospect.

He's put all of those talents on display in Summer League. Frankly, he's been roughly comparable to Reed Sheppard in terms of impact. If the Rockets intend on relying on Sheppard as a lead reserve next year, why can't Chandler be their 14th man?

Rockets should consider roster spot for Chandler

It's hard to forecast what the Rockets will do with their last roster spot. For the time being, it's earmarked for Cam Matthews.

Sure, Matthews is more the Rockets' "type". He's a 6'7" wing who never quits on defense. Do you know who else is a 6'7" (or taller) wing who never quits on defense?

Jabari Smith Jr. Tari Eason. Amen Thompson. Dorian Finney-Smith. Kevin Durant isn't as dogged a defender (although solid) at this stage of his career, but he is Kevin Durant.

The point? The Rockets' wing rotation is crowded. Matthews also shares another similarity with some of that roster - he's got a shaky jump shot. He's not going to get on the floor with the main roster in 2025-26.

By contrast, Chandler brings a skillset that the Rockets are missing to the table. He's a ball-handler. Why not give him a chance while he's overperforming in Summer League?

Ultimately, it's an inconsequential decision. Neither of these guys will be major players for the Rockets in 2025-26. That said, it would be logical to give the nod to a guy who fills a roster need:

That guy is Kennedy Chandler.