In an alternate universe, Danuel House backs up Draymond Green and Kevin Durant. He offers the Warriors another shooter off the bench, makes a case for a long-term role with the defending NBA champions and, over the past two weeks, has gotten meaningful postseason minutes.

In October, House impressed in preseason with Golden State, only to become the team’s final roster cut. Now a rotation player for the Rockets, he is staring down a daunting task in the Western Conference semifinals: spell P.J. Tucker for stretches and help defend Kevin Durant.

"This season, he’s been great," Houston head coach Mike D’Antoni said of House, who entered Tuesday averaging 5.7 points and 3.7 rebounds in 22.5 minutes per game in the playoffs. "I think this is a learning experience a little bit for him in the playoffs, with a little more intensity and pressure. He has to endure that, but he’s been great all year.

"He gives us the ability to be able to have another 4. He’s really the only backup 4 we have for P.J. He’s indispensable to what we do."

Undrafted out of Texas A&M in 2016, House had brief stints with the Wizards and Suns before joining Golden State for training camp in September on an Exhibit 10 contract. In three weeks, he wowed the Warriors’ front office with his shooting range, leaping ability and unyielding motor, totaling 10 points and six rebounds in three preseason games.

That was enough for the Warriors to strongly consider signing him to the active roster, but they were too intrigued by Alfonzo McKinnie’s length, defensive versatility and athleticism. House landed with Houston’s G League affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.

After latching on with the Rockets on a two-way contract, he emerged as a valued rotation player when the team was hit hard by injuries. Houston offered House a three-year, $4.2 million deal and, after a stalemate, converted his two-way contract in March to a guaranteed one for the rest of the season. House will be a restricted free agent this summer.

Although Warriors head coach Steve Kerr is happy for House, he doesn’t regret picking McKinnie, who has authored one of the NBA’s feel-good stories. Little more than two years removed from playing in the rec-league-size gymnasiums of Luxembourg’s second division, he has established himself as a key role player for Golden State.

"You always go with your gut, and it came down literally to the last day of camp," Kerr said of deciding between House and McKinnie. "It worked out well for both players."

Connor Letourneau is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: cletourneau@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @Con_Chron