Rockets' cheap solution to their shooting problems could become available very soon

The Houston Rockets, heading into trade season, have one very clear need: an additional 3-point shooter, even in a limited role, to help bolster their offensive versatility as the season wears on.

Therefore, although his performance has been rather sub-par this season, Amir Coffey of the Milwaukee Bucks, who will become available on December 15th as trade restrictions on deals signed this past offseason are lifted, could prove to be a buy-cheap solution.

After a solid season last year with the Los Angeles Clippers, many were surprised when Coffey essentially had to try out to even earn a roster spot with the Milwaukee Bucks. Yet, he has proved that he is still an NBA-caliber 3-and-D wing, and his addition to the Rockets at a minimum cost could potentially be a difference-making move.

Amir Coffey could represent a low-cost move to add a new wrinkle to the Rockets' offense

As good as the Rockets offense has been this year, they will still, almost certainly, need to up their 3-point volume as the season continues if they want to enter the realm of serious championship contention.

Through their first 21 games, Houston remains dead last in the NBA in 3-points attempted per game by a pretty significant margin. Although their offensive identity does not center around activity beyond the arc, they will need to find additional production from that area of the court in order to maintain their offensive dominance.

If the Rockets decide to make a move, it is then simply a matter of which members of their plethora of role players they are willing to part with. Unless they decide that his contract negotiations will be untenable, Tari Eason is likely unavailable, meaning a larger-scale move will be off the table.

Yet, a trade for Coffey would certainly not require a hefty price.

This season, Coffey's role has been limited by the plethora of capable shooters present on Milwaukee's roster. He's subsisted on a diet of just 8.1 minutes per game, averaging 1.7 points, 0.8 rebounds and 0.4 assists while shooting 30% from beyond the arc. These numbers are not impressive by any stretch of the imagination. So why even consider trading for him?

Last season, in a much larger role with Los Angeles, Coffey was one of the most productive 3-and-D role players in the league, averaging 9.7 points, 2.2 rebonds and 1.1 assists while shooting 40.9% from beyond the arc.

Although he has had some poor shooting stretches throughout his career, his numbers seem to indicate that somewhere in the high 30% range should be the norm for him, especially if his volume is ramped back up to the level he saw with the Clippers last season.

As a player on a minimum contract, some sort of deal centered around a player at a place of positional surplus for the Rockets, such as Jae'Sean Tate, should be enough to get the deal done. While this would be a minor move, it could prove to be one that bolsters a crucial dimension of Houston's offense.