Fri, Jul 20, 2012 at 6:46pm

ROCKETS, BLAZERS HELP CELTS SIGN LEE

In a three-team trade, the Boston Celtics acquired swingman Courtney Lee from the Houston Rockets for forward JaJuan Johnson, shooting guard E’Twaun Moore, power forward/center Sean Williams, and a 2013 second-round draft pick. Houston acquired the draft rights to shooting guard Jon Diebler from the Portland Trail Blazers. Portland acquired swingman Sasha Pavlovic, two 2013 second-round draft picks, and cash from Boston.

What does it give the Boston Celtics
The Celtics get help from Houston and Portland here to give Lee a maximum guaranteed four-year deal, and they give up three players, three second-round picks, and cash to do it. Lee is one of the NBA's more underrated young swingmen and he can help new sixth man {P Jason Terry} give Boston's second unit a nice boost. He also has the talent to eventually be a starter for the Celts down the road when {P Paul Pierce} retires or leaves, so overall this is a nice move by Boston.

What does it give the Houston Rockets
The Rockets continue to add players this off-season, and obviously they don't have the roster space to keep them all (so expect more movement from them going forward). Williams and Moore don't have guaranteed deals (and so are top candidates to be released) but athletic big man Johnson is a nice long-term depth addition and Diebler is a solid 2-guard (although it's unclear if and when he'll return from Europe). The second-round pick won't help much but it and Johnson are at least solid returns for letting UFA Lee go (which he could have done without the Rockets getting anything back). Houston has now moved almost all of its core from last season: {P Kyle Lowry}, {P Luis Scola}, {P Goran Dragic}, {P Samuel Dalembert}, {P Marcus Camby}, {P Chase Budinger}, and now Lee.

What does it give the Portland Trail Blazers
The Blazers contribute only Diebler to this deal and they receive a solid return overall. The cash will pay for Pavlovic's salary and he's expected to be a veteran depth guy for the Blazers who can provide some insurance and leadership backing up Portland's mostly young swingmen. Not a bad haul by Portland here for Diebler.

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