http://www.nba.com/lakers/news/140713jeremylin Sergei Lishouk becomes a Rocket for a second time as a part of the Jeremy Lin trade. He was a part of the February 2008 Bonzi+Mike James for Bobby Jackson trade, with Sergei going from Memphis to Houston. During Sergei's time in Houston, the Rockets made the playoffs twice and got to the 2nd round for the first, and still the only time, since the Hakeem days. The first Lishouk era for the Rockets ended in December 2010, when the rebuilding Rockets sent Sergei to the Lakers as a part of a 3 way deal that landed Terrence "Squid" Williams in Houston. 3 and a half years later, Sergei is coming home to Houston. Here are Sergei's stats: http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Sergei-Lishouk-5396/stats/ Sergei plays in Spain for some team call Valencia, likely affiliated with some orange farmers: Hopefully, the Rockets advances in the playoffs again as it did during Sergei's first run.
Not house hunting in Houston, so likely Sugarland, Katy, or The Woodlands. Looking forward to his first game in Toyota Center <iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/k-ImCpNqbJw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Good trade for both teams. The Lakers are rebuilding and do not need Sergei. Sergei is helpful only when your team is already good. Sergei was drafted by a 50 win Memphis team in 2004, which then went on to make the playoffs in the next 2 seasons before everything fell apart. A rebuilding Memphis team sent Sergei to Houston, then trying to compete in the playoffs, in 2008. A rebuilding Rockets team sent Sergei to a 57-win Lakers team in 2010. Now a rebuilding Lakers team sent Sergei back to the Rockets as they try to build a contender.
That price is about right. $7-8M in cash gets you a 20-30 protected 1st and late 2nd round pick. So basically we salary dumped Lin and compensated them for the overpay portion.