Rockets must avoid controversial move that would compromise their budding identity

As the Houston Rockets have begun the season looking like one of the best offensive teams in the league, there is one central question that still lingers around their hopes for a championship run: their lack of a natural point guard.

Accordingly, Bleacher Report recently inked a mock trade that swaps pending restricted free agent Tari Eason for emerging guard Jared McCain of the Philadelphia 76ers, and, although such a move may sound enticing on paper, the Rockets must avoid a trade that would compromise their budding identity so intensely.

Although McCain looked like a dynamic guard in the limited play he got during his rookie season (he missed most of it dealing with a knee injury), Houston cannot place such a large bet on an unknown quantity, sacrificing a major piece of their budding young core in the process.

The Rockets do not need to make a drastic move for a point guard right now

Although the Rockets do, admittedly, have their flaws on offense in the absence of starting point guard Fred VanVleet, they have proven, so far this season, to be able to put forward a lethal offensive attack even in spite of these.

Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun have a rapidly growing chemistry on that end of the floor, and, through their first 11 games, Houston is first in the NBA in offensive rating, first in 3-point percentage and first in offensive rebounding percentage.

While a trade for a guard like the ones they have been linked to could ultimately prove to be the move that brings them into championship contention, there have been no signs so far this season that such a trade is immediately necessary as their young core has stepped up into their new roles with a hunger that signifies their championship hopes.

Dealing Eason for McCain would be a major sacrifice that the Rockets should be hesitant to make

In some ways, this trade does make sense. Eason reportedly declined an offer this past offseason that sat north of $100 million, and it remains to be seen, given the Rockets' financial limitations, how much of a challenge his restricted free agency will present.

Moreover, with the rapid emergence of rookie guard VJ Edgecombe, the 76ers now have even less room for McCain upon his return from injury, especially given the excellent performances that both Tyrese Maxey and Quentin Grimes have put forth so far this season. While they ease McCain back from injury, he has averaged just 10.3 minutes in the three games he has played so far,

While they did lose Jalen Green in the Durant trade, Houston's young core of Amen Thompson, Alperen Sengun, Reed Sheppard and Eason came out unscathed, and their identity this season is currently being constructed around the performances of these players.

Although bringing in McCain would fill a major need for the Rockets, any sort of trade for a guard this season would require the team to sacrifice some crucial aspect of their growing identity as a threatening two-way team, and such a move should not be made lightly: only when it is proven absolutely necessary for this team to capitalize on their immediate championship window.