LAKERS SEND LOU TO ROCKETS FOR PICK PLUS BREWER
The Houston Rockets acquired combo guard Louis Williams from the Los Angeles Lakers for swingman Corey Brewer and a 1st-round draft pick in 2017.
What does it give the Houston Rockets
Williams is probably a better fit than Brewer for head coach Mike D'Antoni's three-point-shooting-happy offense. As one of the NBA's premier sixth men, he should be able to step in right away and help the Rockets with their playoff push. That said, the Houston backcourt is now fairly overcrowded, so don't be surprised if another Rockets guard (perhaps Patrick Beverley) is moved before the NBA trading deadline.
What does it give the Los Angeles Lakers
New Lakers team boss Magic Johnson moved quickly after taking over the organization this week, getting a first-round pick (and an unprotected one at that) for Williams while replacing him with a solid veteran defender in Brewer. Both Williams and Brewer have one year left after this one on their current contracts, so this is an excellent all-round future-focused move for the rebuilding Lake Show.
Fantasy impact
Williams takes a hit fantasy-wise moving from the offensively-challenged Lakers to the much deeper Rockets. Beverley as well loses fantasy value (or any he might have held before this swap). On the Lakers side, Brewer isn't likely to start filling up the box score with his new squad, so expect Brandon Ingram and Jordan Clarkson to see solid boosts in both playing time and shots.
