Josh Okogie Has Great Opportunity to Make Impact With Dorian Finney-Smith Injured

The Houston Rockets went through significant changes this offseason. From blockbuster trades to free agent signings, the Rockets were one of the most active teams in the NBA this offseason. The Rockets traded for the biggest name on the open market, Kevin Durant, bringing the future Hall of Famer to Houston in exchange for Jalen Green, their 2021 second-round pick, who was their leading scorer last season.

The Rockets also traded Dillon Brooks as part of the Durant trade. Brooks was brought to the Rockets in 2023 to help solidify their defense as they transitioned from a mostly young rebuilding team to a competitive, more veteran-led squad starting in the 2023-24 season. With the departure of Brooks, the Rockets knew they needed to find a three-and-D replacement.

The Rockets quickly filled that position by signing former Los Angeles Lakers Dorian Finney-Smith to a four-year, $53 million contract. With the team trading away its starting shooting guard, many believed one of the other moves this offseason would be to bring in a point guard. At the time, the Rockets were going into the season with Fred VanVleet, Reed Sheppard, and Aaron Holiday as their only guards. The Rockets, however, went a different route during free agency.

Josh Okogie can be a difference maker off the bench

The Rockets announced they had signed seven-year veteran Josh Okogie to a one-year deal. For some, it was a surprise as many believed the Rockets would try to bring in another point guard, but in hindsight, the signing made sense. At the time, the Rockets were planning on a three-guard rotation with VanVleet resuming his starting point guard duties. Of course, a couple of months later, VanVleet would suffer a potential season-ending injury right before training camp.

The Rockets, like most teams, believe that having multiple defensive wings is a necessity in today's NBA. At the time, the Rockets also knew that Finney-Smith, who had offseason ankle surgery, probably wouldn't be ready for the opening of the regular season.

With Thompson moving to the backcourt, the Rockets felt they needed another defensive-minded wing, and Okogie fits that description. Over his career, Okogie has been one of the better one-on-one defenders in the NBA, showcasing those skills on a nightly basis. The Rockets have seen that first-hand over the years as Okogie has been the primary defender on everyone from James Harden to Jalen Green.

Okogie can also play shooting guard if not needed, which is a luxury for a team short on guard depth. More importantly, Okogie is an Ime Udoka-type player, someone who will do all the dirty work needed on the defensive end. A player who values defense and sometimes sacrifices his offensive numbers.

Okogie averaged a career high in steals last season between his time in Phoenix and Charlotte, which fits right in with the Rockets' defensive-first approach. There is no word on when Finney-Smith will be ready for his Rockets debut, so Okogie should have every opportunity to make an impact off the bench to start the season.