The Rockets have released 29-year old power forward Brian Cook. Cook played in 15 games (0 starts) for the Rockets this season and he averaged 2.9 minutes, 1.4 points, 0.6 rebounds and 0.1 assists per game. He played in 24 games (0 starts) in his two years with the Rockets and he averaged 2.9 minutes, 1.4 points, 0.6 rebounds and 0.1 assists per game. This is no loss to the Rockets at all.

With Kevin Martin on board that likely means that Shane Battier will be the new sixth man off the bench for the Rockets. He has played in 53 games (all starts) for the Rockets this season and he is averaging 33.0 minutes, 8.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. Battier’s shot has been off this season as he is only hitting 39.8% from the floor this season. Still, his veteran leadership and defense should play well off the bench for the Rockets the rest of the year.

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.

The Houston Rockets are a part of a three-team deal that also involves the New York Knicks and Sacramento Kings.  In this deal, the Rockets have finally rid themselves of the injury prone, prima donna that is Tracy McGrady.  T-Mac is going to the Knicks, while the Rockets get Jordan Hill and Jared Jeffries in return.  The Rockets also are getting a great player from the Kings in Kevin Martin, along with Hilton Armstrong.  The Rockets had to give up Joey Dorsey and, unfortunately, Carl Landry to the Kings.  The Kings also got Larry Hughes from the Knicks.  Landry was Houston’s top young player and is one of the best 6th men in the league.  This season he is shooting 55% from the field and is averaging 16.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 0.8 assists, and 0.9 blocks in just 27.2 minutes per game.

Although Landry will be missed, this was a good deal overall for the Rockets.  Kevin Martin is a star in this league, averaging 19.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.1 steal.  He has been struggling a little from the field this season (40% FG), but I expect that to improve since the Rockets are a much better team than the Kings and he is just staring to get into the flow of things since he was also injured for a much of the season with a broken wrist, playing in only 22 games thus far.  Another reason this was a good deal for the Rockets is that they also get the option of swapping draft picks with the Knicks in 2011 (unless it’s the #1 pick), and will get their 2012 first-round pick (unless it’s a top-5 pick).  So, that means the Rockets have gotten a great guard in Kevin Martin, more depth in the front court with Hilton Armstrong, Jared Jeffries, and Jordan Hill, all while having some young talent to look forward to in the 2011 and 2012 NBA drafts.

29-year old power forward Brian Cook has done almost nothing to help the Rockets this season. He has played in 14 games (0 starts) for the Rockets this season and he is averaging 2.7 minutes, 1.2 points, 0.5 rebounds and 0.1 assists per game. Cook is also shooting a lot of bricks whenever he comes into the game as he is only hitting 33.3% of his shots from the floor. Don’t expect Cook to help the Rockets at all the rest of the season.