The Houston Chronicle drops a brief mention that the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets are "contemplating a [pre-draft] deal involving [Luther] Head in exchange for power forward Brian Cook."
While both teams could theoretically have interest in such a deal, there exists a pretty significant catch. Cook has a "poison pill" contract since his extension doesn't kick in until July 1st. To clarify he would be considered $1.8 million in outgoing salary for the Lakers but $3.08 million as incoming for the Rockets.
In other words, Head cannot be traded straight up for Cook. Other players would have to be involved.
While there is nothing out of Los Angeles to suggest anything like this is in the works, there were rumors at the February trade deadline that LA and Houston were discussing a Bonzi Wells for Cook swap.
Also in the Chronicle article, the author describes other potential deals in the works that have Vassilis Spanoulis and John Lucas III moving to other teams. He also describes Rafer Alston and new acquisition Mike James needing to find a "happy medium" as the team's two point guards.
Going through the Houston roster, assuming Alston, James, Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady are unavailable . . . there are not a lot of pieces that would make a trade work considering Cook's complex contract.
Even if Spanoulis or Lucas were in discussion to the Lakers, their salaries don't solve the puzzle.
One player to consider is Bonzi Wells who has an opt out that the Rockets may have been counting on for a $2.3 million in savings. Now that his former coach, Rick Adelman has taken the Houston job, Wells is reportedly considering the final year on his contract. If he decides to stay, the Rockets may be motivated to trade him despite a strong relationship with the coach.
To match a Head/Wells combination, the Lakers would probably have to throw in Sasha Vujacic and maybe even one of the team's first or second-round picks (19, 40 or 48).
There is no evidence at this point that the Lakers or Rockets would move any of the four players . . . other than the author's word and some salary crunching.
It might be surprising to some to see Head jettisoned from the Rockets' roster altogether after a strong sophomore season.
Perhaps Cook's mid-season run-in with the Laker Coach, in which he dropped his warm-ups at the Phil Jackson's feet during a game would precipitate his exit . . . but is the team prepared to make any moves at this point with the uncertainty surrounding Kobe Bryant and his trade demand?
Head would be a three-point ace, capable of playing the point in the triangle. Wells might be a solid veteran guard to add to the mix while providing the team with insurance in case Luke Walton decided not to re-sign.
Cook would give the Rockets an outside threat at a position they need to fill (power forward) after trading Juwan Howard for James. Vujacic is a combination guard who might fit well into Adelman's motion offense.
But is that enough reason to expect a trade a four-player trade?
Not with lone mention in the Houston Chronicle.
While the revised version of the deal may be completely off base, at least now it passes salary cap scrutiny.
http://www.hoopsworld.com/article_22389.shtml
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