The Rockets are James Harden's team.

They live and breathe by the Beard.

We know this because for months the team has done everything to push that message.

The Rockets put all their eggs in the James Harden basket — gave him a huge contract, hired his dream coach, filled in pieces around him, made him the starting point guard.

So when general manager Daryl Morey started working his magic and the trade of the summer was announced Wednesday morning, a lot of questions emerged with the intrigue and excitement it raised.

Chris Paul in Houston.

That Chris Paul — the point god.

The example of what elite point guards look like.

After spending a year transforming Harden into a top-tier point guard, the Rockets now face the challenge of figuring out how to make two first-class point guards work seamlessly on the same team.

On top of that, they'll have to determine how to make Harden's team a two-man show.

This can all work.

Having two top-10 NBA players on the same team can lead to flawless basketball, thrilling entertainment and, most importantly, championships.

For it to work in Houston, one person has to be able to handle it more than anyone else.

Harden has to show he has truly matured.

Last season, all signs pointed to this being the case. He looked like a leader, acted like one, took more responsibility, made it clear he was pursuing wins.

There was a definite change from the season before, when shoe contracts and a famous girlfriend seemed to define the bearded superstar.

Harden genuinely seemed all in on the Rockets last season and reminded everyone by putting together an MVP-caliber season.

It was all great — until it wasn't.

Harden finished the postseason with his worst performance of the campaign, leading to attacks on him that were reminiscent of the year before.

His abysmal performance in Game 6 against the San Antonio Spurs prompted a response from everyone watching. It looked like Harden gave up, like he didn't care.

In all likelihood, he just had a bad game.

Soon, we will know which is the case.

Because with Paul by his side, Harden is going to have to care all the time. He will have to be mature. He will have to share the spotlight and the ball.

Basketball-wise, the duo can work in a few ways. Each will have to give up some on-ball possessions.

This gives coach Mike D'Antoni a chance to work out a substitution pattern that can keep one of them on the court at all times. Similar to the way Cleveland uses LeBron James and Kyrie Irving, the Rockets could sub Paul out early and slide Harden over to the point guard spot.

The backcourt has two heads now. In simple terms, Paul could make some of Harden's impossible shots possible. If both players can be unselfish, they can strengthen the team.

An added bonus Paul brings is his defensive play. The Rockets lost Pat Beverley in the trade but added a fellow all-NBA defender with just as much, if not more, grit and toughness.

When D'Antoni was named NBA Coach of the Year a few nights ago, he thanked his players for buying into his system and making it work. If they continue to do so, the basketball will add up.

Aside from the X's and O's, there is the question of whether Harden will be able to handle being a co-star. Paul is not a player who is going to stay in the background. He is vocal, passionate and hungry to win.

When Harden misses a defensive assignment, Paul is the type of teammate who will be in his face about it. When the team needs a pep talk or to be chewed out, Paul is the kind of leader who will step up on either occasion.

Harden is going to have to make room for Paul's big personality for the greater good of the Rockets.

The two are friends. They speak highly of each other, have played together on Team USA, and have said they'd like to be teammates again.

So in theory, both understand what the team will look like. Now they just have to make it all work. That starts with Harden's being mature enough to scoot over and make room for another star.

The Rockets are no longer just Harden's team. They have a new leader in the ranks.

Welcome to Houston, Chris Paul.