Rockets fleece Lakers in Lou Williams trade

Hours before the WojBomb, I brainstormed some potential players the Rockets could be targeting with the trade deadline fast-approaching. After looking at the names I scribbled down — Wilson Chandler, Bojan Bogdanovic, PJ Tucker — I scratched the elegant word, “nah” next to “Lou Will.”

I assumed the price for Williams would be too high for the Rockets. I assumed other suitors, like the Washington Wizards or Charlotte Hornets, would pay a premium for the outstanding scorer. I assumed wrong.

The Rockets gave up Corey Brewer (it’s about time!) and a first rounder for Williams, which will be in the high twenties.

Williams, a two-for-1 wizard, is having one of the best statistical years of his career (19 points per game, 39% from deep) and plays on a ridiculous contract ($7 million per year through 2018).

Brewer, who makes nearly $8 million annually, is averaging 4.2 points in 16 minutes per game this season. He has given up on taking threes, attempting just 1.6 per game at a 23 percent clip.

Now with the two most prolific bench scorers in the league, the Rockets have plenty of offensive weapons in Mike D’Antoni’s arsenal.

The former Laker, Raptor, Hawk, and Sixer will likely fill Brewer’s role as the wing running with Eric Gordon and Patrick Beverley on the second unit.

The “win-now” trade turns Williams’ attention to the postseason: "Now, my mindset has be to go into savage mode and get ready for a playoff run,” he told Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle.

For the Lakers, it seems like there could have been better deals floating around the league. Washington and Charlotte both expressed interest in Williams and have better draft picks to offer.

If this trade is any indication of the next phase of the Lakers organization with Magic Johnson calling the shots, I’d be pretty concerned if I was a Laker fan.

Johnson has been around the league for more 30 years, but he is fresh meat to veteran general managers like Daryl Morey.

Morey just stole the new kid’s lunch money on his first day of school.