Chris Paul's trade to the Houston Rockets was met with doubts by some who have questioned whether he will be a help or a hindrance to Rockets superstar James Harden.

There is an interest to see how the two ball-dominant guards will co-exist on the same floor as they are used to having the ball in their hands on every possession to make plays.

The early signs in pre-season have been promising as the duo have shared the load and allowed the other to play off the ball and benefit from open looks.

As well as his playmaking abilities, Paul will bring leadership to the Rockets and will become a key presence in the locker room.

In the annual general manager's survey released this week, the league executives voted CP3 as the player who would make the best coach among those in the NBA at present.

He is one of the best floor generals and is seen as an extension of his coach on the court because of high basketball IQ.

Former Rockets head coach Kevin McHale believes CP3's qualities will prove to be vital for the team as he doesn't view Harden as a leader.

"James can see all the passes and do everything, but James is not a leader," McHale said on NBA TV. "He tried being a leader last year, tried doing all that stuff. I think Chris Paul is going to help him just kind of get back into just being able to hoop and play and stuff like that.

"But on every team, you have to have a voice. On every team, you have to have somebody that when they say something, people listen.

"Like if James tells you, 'You've got to play better D,' are you going to listen to him? Like you've gotta be kidding me. I lived through it. Every time he mentioned defence, everybody would put their head down."

McHale led the Rockets to the Western Conference Finals in the 2014/15 season but was fired just 11 games into the following campaign after a dismal start.

The Hall of Famer knows Harden better than most and expects Paul to ultimately make him a better player.

"Chris Paul is going to push him, too," McHale said. "When he does that stab in the backcourt, doesn't get a foul, looking at the referee, not running back, Chris Paul is going to jump his butt. That's going to make him a better player.

"I just think Chris Paul will be good for James Harden. It will allow him to just be what he is, which is a phenomenal basketball player, not trying to lead a team. That's just not his personality."