The Houston Rockets traded with the Sacramento Kings making the team younger and filling it with talent. These changes are only going to give the Rockets and Jeremy Lin more weapons, which will ultimately make the team better. How can these new players make Lin better?
Lin is a talented guy who jumped onto the basketball scene last season. With probably the biggest fan base of any basketball player, Lin lovers might disagree with the fact that anything can make their star better, but with the mix of players acquired by the Rockets, these guys will help space the floor and that's where Lin is dangerous.
The main piece in the trade is Thomas Robinson, who was the 5th overall pick in the 2012 draft. Joining him are Francisco Garcia and Tyler Honeycutt. The Rockets gave up Patrick Patterson who chipped almost 12 points per game, Toney Douglas, who can't stay put on a team, and center Cole Aldrich.
Now, a lot of people might not have heard of Garcia and if they have it's because his college career has been more prominent than his time in the NBA. Garcia is an outside shooter. Aside from James Harden and Chandler Parsons, the Rockets can get some help from three as Garcia has shot 36 percent from beyond the arc in 2012.
Robinson is an absolute force around the basket, or at least he was in college. He's averaged almost five points and rebounds in 16 minutes averaged per game in the NBA.
There's no doubt that he has to build his NBA skills, but when this guy learns how to dominate around the paint, Lin will have a guy to dish it inside who can move quickly and is athletic or Lin can have Robinson attract double teams as he works getting the ball to the perimeter.
Lin has great ability to penetrate and get to the basket. Garcia and Thomas bring completely different games to the Rockets, so they won't ever clash on the basketball court.
If all else fails, Harden is there to back Lin up at least for the next couple of years. The two are quick and create chaos. With Robinson helping Omer Asik with rebounds, the Rockets have players with designated roles on the offense and defense.
The Rockets are currently clenching on to the eight and final playoff spot with less than two months of regular season basketball left in the season.
*The deal is not yet official.
