NBA News: Lakers Trade Lou Williams To Rockets In Exchange For Brewer & 1st-Rounder Unprotected Pick
As per league source, The Los Angeles Lakers have reportedly traded Lou Wiliams to the Houston Rockets in exchange for Corey Brewer and a first-round pick. The move adds yet another capable scorer to the Rockets' barrage of 3-point shooters, as well as getting the Lakers a first-round pick in exchange for taking Brewer, who makes slightly more between now and next season when his contract will expire at the same time as Williams'.
In the Rockets standpoint, it doesn't appear to address their biggest need, which is defense, but it does shore up a weakness. According to CBS Sports, Brewer has been inconsistently unable to keep up with his 3-point shooting teammates under Mike D'Antoni, and opponents would just routinely play off him and send in more help defense at James Harden.
With the acquisition of Williams, not only will opponents be unable to do so since Williams is a capable and solid shooter, but the Rockets can also survive with Harden on the bench a lot more. When Harden sits, the offensive rating for the Rockets drops to 105, which may be a good mark for some teams but a paltry sum for Houston.
According to The Orange County Register, Williams brings the ability to create shots on his own, as he is in the 94th percentile in pick and roll situations, and 92nd when factoring passes. Those number will likely go up when not surrounded by the dreadful Lakers offense.
Williams also has high marks in isolation and spot-up shooting. To put it simply, he basically fits perfectly with the Rockets' offense.
The defense, of course, is going to be a concern at some point, but the Rockets' defense isn't as bad as you would think, considering that they are 14th in the NBA and 11th since January, and they can always just rely on starters during the playoffs.
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