Houston Rockets trade Kyle Lowry for future first round draft picks – NBA News
The Houston Rockets have always been known to make big moves at the trade deadline and the offseason. Last season, they were involved in a three team trade that would have seen Pau Gasol land in Houston. That deal did not go through.
This free agency season, the Houston Rockets are focused at the point guard position and making moves to change their roster. First, the Rockets informed free agent Goran Dragic that they were not ready to offer him the contract
he was expecting, and let him go. Now, it has been learnt that the Rockets are trading Kyle Lowry to the Toronto Raptors for a future first round draft pick.
Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle first reported the story which has since been confirmed by sources in the league. He said:
“The exodus of Rockets point guards continued Thursday with the Rockets sending Kyle Lowry to the Toronto Raptors for a package built around a future first-round draft pick, a person with knowledge of the deal said. The pick will
have limited protections, but was called “a likely lottery pick.” Protections, still being discussed, could keep the pick from coming in the upper echelon of the draft. In an unusual clause in the deal, the Rockets also will not get the pick next season if
the Raptors’ season keeps the pick from getting too late in the draft.”
The Rockets have now let go of both their star point guards. Dragic had a breakthrough season with the Houston Rockets who used him as a starting point guard as Kyle Lowry was sidelined with injury. Lowry had said at the end of
the season that he no longer wanted to work under Kevin McHale and would rather prefer if he was traded.
The Rockets have signed New York Knicks restricted free agent Jeremy Lin as a replacement to the two guards. The Knicks will have three days to match the Rockets offer after he signs the deal on July 11. However, it is unlikely
that Lin will get an offer from New York as they are already tied up with cap space issues.
Lin was the breakout player for the Knicks last season. He was the reserve guard for the team and only given an opportunity when both Baron Davis and Iman Shumpert were struggling with injuries. Lin capitalized and scored at least
20 points in 9 of 10 games in a stretch back in February. He was tipped to win the most improved player trophy but did not win it in the end.
Lin was sidelined with a knee injury before the playoffs commenced but Knicks team management were hoping to re-sign him for next season as a starting point guard.
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