Rockets trade Rafer Alston to Magic
By CHRIS DUNCAN, The Associated Press
9:30 p.m. February 19, 2009
HOUSTON — The Houston Rockets have wanted Kyle Lowry since
he came out of Villanova in 2006. They finally acquired him on Thursday,
and gave away veteran point guard Rafer Alston to do it.
The Rockets traded Alston to Orlando and acquired Lowry from
Memphis and forward Brian Cook from the Magic on Thursday, reshaping their
roster for the stretch run after Tracy McGrady announced he was out for
the season.
The Magic, meanwhile, needed an experienced point guard after
All-Star Jameer Nelson underwent season-ending surgery on the torn labrum
in his right shoulder Thursday. Nelson suffered the injury Feb. 2 and had
been contemplating rehabilitation.
Alston led Houston with 5.3 assists this season, but Rockets
general manager Daryl Morey bluntly said Lowry is a better player.
"Upgrading that position was a goal going into the deadline,"
Morey said. "We feel like we accomplished it. Kyle's going to be a
guy this town really loves. He's a really tough competitor, up-tempo player,
a winner."
Memphis also received center Adonal Foyle, guard Mike Wilks
and the Magic's first-round draft pick in the deal. The Grizzlies drafted
Lowry with the 24th overall pick in the 2006 draft.
Houston was eyeing Lowry then, but took Rudy Gay with the
eighth overall pick. Later on draft night, the Rockets traded Gay to Memphis
for Shane Battier, but couldn't get Lowry.
"We felt like he's a player who would fit well here,
could really contribute" Morey said. "He's going to do exactly
what Coach (Rick) Adelman tells him to do. We feel like it's a young player
who can help us now and who we can build around for the future."
The 6-foot Lowry averaged 7.6 points and 3.6 assists in 49
games for the Grizzlies this season.
"He has been an important part of our team the last three
seasons. With the emergence of Mike Conley, we decided that getting Orlando's
unprotected first-round pick was a good move to make. We now will enter
the upcoming draft with two first-round selections and three picks overall,
likely inside the first 37 picks," Grizzlies general manager Chris
Wallace said.
The three-team swap came one day after McGrady announced on
his Web site that he'll have season-ending microfracture surgery on his
troublesome left knee.
But Morey said McGrady will meet with another doctor this
weekend in Chicago before having the procedure. While McGrady seems set
on having microfracture surgery, Morey said the Rockets want to meet with
him soon after his appointment to discuss all possible courses of treatment.
"I'm not a doctor, I don't know which one is the best
one," Morey said. "I just believe in hearing all the options and
then deciding."
The Rockets are 33-21, second in the Southwest Division, but
sixth overall in the Western Conference. Brooks and Lowry have less than
five years of NBA experience between them, but Morey said he didn't see
the duo's youth as a drawback.
Morey mentioned the Boston Celtics, who won last season's NBA title with
second-year pro Rajon Rondo starting at point guard.
"Basketball is about having the better player,"
Morey said. "This gets us a little younger. But as long as the player
is an upgrade, we don't mind getting a little younger."
Morey said he would let Adelman decide how to split time between
Brooks and Lowry.
"We love Aaron's future and Kyle's future," Morey
said. "Both those guys can be guys we build around. Aaron's played
better than anyone at that spot with the starters this year. They're two
guys that give us great depth at that spot."
Orlando, which is 3-3 since Nelson's injury, needed help at the position.
Nelson had the procedure performed Thursday by Dr. James Andrews
in Birmingham, Ala. and the Magic said he would need an estimated four to
six months of rehabilitation. Alston helps fill the void for the rest of
the season.
The 6-foot-2 Alston practiced with the Rockets on Thursday
but left before the session was opened to the media. He was averaging 11.5
points this season and had 24 assists in Houston's last two games, both
victories.
Alston was due to make $4.9 million this season and $5.25
million next season, the last year of his contract with Houston. The Rockets
acquired him in an October 2005 trade with Toronto.
"What he does is compete," Magic general manager
Otis Smith said of Alston. "What he does is battle every night. What
he does is not allow guys to take a step back."
The move reunites Alston with Coach Stan Van Gundy, who led
Miami when Alston played for the Heat in 2003-04. Alston played for Jeff
Van Gundy, Stan's brother, in his first two seasons with the Rockets.
"It's great to go to a team that wants you," Alston
told Houston television station KRIV. "It's an honor and privilege
to go to a team that is willing to trade something to get you."
The 6-9 Cook is averaging only 3 points and 1.3 rebounds in
21 games for the Magic this season. Morey acknowledged that Cook may not
see much playing time, backing up Luis Scola and Carl Landry, but he may
be useful in specific situations.
"He gives us another chess piece," Morey said. "If
we're playing a team and we want to spread them out, Cook can play (center).
It would give them another tool on the roster."
