Houston Rockets’ point guard Aaron Brooks was named the NBA’s Most Improved Player after he set new career highs in points, assists and rebounds.  Brooks, who finished his third season this year, averaged just 11.2 points, 3.2 assists, and 2.0 rebounds last season.  He stepped up for the Rockets this season and upped his averages to 19.6 points per game, 5.3 assists, and 2.6 rebounds.  That is over 8 more points per game and 2 more assists, so you can see why he won the Most Improved Player Award.  He also improved his field goal percentage, going from 40% last year to 43% this year.  He was also one of the best three-point shooters in the game, shooting 40 % from behind the arc, over 3% better than last season.  The Rockets needed someone to step up for them, abd Brooks did in a big way since they were without Yao Ming for the whole year and Tracy McGrady never worked out for them.  Brooks led the Rockets to a winning record of 42-40, but it wasn’t enough to get the Rockets in the playoffs were every Western Conference playoff team one at least 50 games.  Rockets’ fans should still be proud of the way Brooks and the rest of the club responded without a go-to guy to start the season.  Brooks showed that he can be that guy for the Rockets and he was well deserving of the Most Improved Player Award.

Backup forward Jordan Hill has finally got into the Rockets’ rotation and he has been doing a good job. Hill has played in 12 games (0 starts) for the Rockets this season and he is averaging 16.0 minutes, 6.0 points, 4.9 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game. He has a nice upside and the Rockets were smart to get him in a trade.

Starting shooting guard Kevin Martin has been really solid for the Rockets since coming over from the Kings. Martin has played in 17 games (15 starts) for the Rockets this season and he is averaging 36.9 minutes, 21.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. Martin gives the Rockets a go-to scorer that they didn’t have until he came to town.

The Houston Rockets’ power forward Luis Scola has been one of the few consistent players down low for them all season long.  He is a strong player who is a solid defender and a great rebounder.  On the season, Scola is averaging 15.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 0.7 steals while playing only 30.9 minutes per game.  The Rockets have been having an up and down season, and with a record of 32-31 they will likely miss the playoffs in a stacked Western Conference.  You can’t put much blame on Scola though, as he has filled in great for a depleted Rockets’ frontcourt who have been without their star center Yao Ming all season (broken foot).  Scola has been playing very well lately, especially in his last seven games were he’s shooting 50% and is averaging 19.7 points, 12.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 0.9 steals.  The Rockets are 5 games out of the playoff picture, and with 19 games left they will need to put together a lot of wins if they want any chance of making the postseason.  Scola can definitely help the Rockets do that, but everyone else on the team needs to step up.

When you break this trade down the Rockets essentially traded Tracy McGrady, Carl Landry and Joey Dorsey for Kevin Martin, Jared Jefferies, Jordan Hill, Hilton Armstrong, the option to move up in the 2011 draft and the Knicks’ first round pick in 2012. What a monumental steal for the Rockets. This trade can literally put the Rockets in the playoffs. The Rockets were having a hard time scoring lately but that won’t be a problem with Kevin Martin now on the team. Martin has played in 22 games (21 starts) for the Kings this season and he is averaging 35.2 minutes, 19.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.1 steals per game. He will become without a doubt the Rockets’ #1 option on offense. He has now played in 331 games (245 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 30.6 minutes, 17.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.0 steal per game. Martin is also a 38.6% shooter from three point range in his career. Martin is only 27 years old so he will probably be on the Rockets for a while. 28-year old Jared Jeffries fits into the Rockets’ mind set of playing good defense. He will likely come off the bench in Carl Landry’s spot. That will be a downgrade for the Rockets. Jeffries played in 52 games (37 starts) for the Knicks this season and he was averaging 28.1 minutes, 5.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.0 steal and 1.1 blocked shots per game. He has now played in 492 games (322 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 23.5 minutes, 5.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. 22-year old forward Jordan Hill has a huge upside as he was a first round pick of the Knicks this season. He has played in 24 games (0 starts) for the Knicks this season and he was averaging 10.5 minutes, 4.0 points, 2.5 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game. The Knicks did not want to give Hill up in this trade. 25-year old Hilton Armstrong is also a former first round pick. He has played in 24 games (0 starts) for the Hornets and Kings this season and he was averaging 12.3 minutes, 2.5 points, 3.1 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game. Armstrong has now played in 215 games (37 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 12.8 minutes, 3.5 points, 2.7 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game. Getting to possibly switch picks with the Knicks in 2011 and getting their first round pick in 2012 was an excellent move for the Rockets.