Sun, Jul 13, 2014 at 10:51pm

LAKERS LAND LIN FROM ROCKETS

The Los Angeles Lakers acquired combo guard Jeremy Lin, a conditional future first-round draft pick, and a second-round draft pick in 2015 from the Houston Rockets for the rights to center Sergei Lishchuk.

What does it give the Los Angeles Lakers
Most of the players on the current Lakers roster are either quite young ( {P Julius Randle}, {P Kendall Marshall}, {P Jordan Hill}) or quite old ( {P Steve Nash} and {P Kobe Bryant}). Lin gives this group an above-average lead guard in his prime, which should help the Lakers at least fill some seats and win a few more games. Lin was a sensation when he broke through with the Knicks back in 2011-12, but since then he hasn't been quite as stellar. The draft picks are incentive for L.A. to add Lin's hefty salary (and the first-rounder is conditionally protected).

What does it give the Houston Rockets
At 32 years old and still in Europe, Lishchuk looks likely to stay abroad. So why did the Rockets make this deal? Simply, to clear cap space. With the Miami Heat no longer a powerhouse (following the departure of {P=900 LeBron James} back to Cleveland), the NBA title is now much more winnable and the Rockets have been focused the past couple of years on making big moves to become a true contender (including acquiring cornerstones {P James Harden} and {P Dwight Howard}). The financial wiggle-room created by this deal should help them continue building that core.

Fantasy impact
Even if {P Steve Nash} manages to play fairly regularly in the coming season (a big 'if' considering his age and injury-plagued 2013-14 campaign), the Lakers will likely want to keep Nash fresh and healthy. That might mean a sixth man role for the two-time MVP, and while Marshall is a gifted pass-first point-man, he is still very young. All of that suggests Lin may be in line to start at point guard for the Lake Show, and he can certainly back up at shooting guard (with {P Kobe Bryant} expected to need more rest than usual as well). Bottom line: Lin's fantasy numbers should bounce back in the coming campaign. Lishchuk likely wouldn't be a fantasy option even if he decides to play in the NBA at this late stage of his career (which also appears unlikely). That said, another Houston player ( {P Isaiah Canaan}) will probably see a solid jump in playing time picking up some of Lin's minutes in the Rockets' backcourt rotation.