Tradewinds Installment 5: Magic Replace Nelson; Rockets Clear Up Cap Space

Well, as of now, here's your last-minute blockbuster: Orlando gets Rafer Alston to fill in for Jameer Nelson, Rockets get Kyle Lowry from Memphis and Brian Cook from Orlando, Memphis gets some Magic first-rounder. Feel the intensity!

In all highly professional seriousness, this does at least give the Magic some stability at the PG position, meaning they haven't quite given up on being an elite team this season. Rafer Alston is no Jameer Nelson, mostly because he's really streaky and is more than willing to go along with terrible shooting nights. But he's also probably a better passer, which bodes well for a team with a dominant center and a trillion three-point shooters. And he can get to the basket, which means the Magic don't have to totally restructure their offense. Exhale loudly ... now!

Harder to figure out is what the Rockets gain here, except valuable cap space. Presumably, Daryl Morey has done extensive analysis of Lowry and decided he's an invaluable asset and possibly the future of the game. He certainly has the kind of unlikely all-around production that makes Battier seem so special, minus the shooting percentage. Or Houston's decided that it was time to give Aaron Brooks plenty of time to prove he's a real PG. Hard to see this as a reaction to losing McGrady, since they've gotten used to doing without him. Orlando already has enough Brian Cooks, and Houston probably just wants the mild cap relief from his $3.5 million expiring contract. Memphis hates paying people and loves drafting them.

On second thought, this deal is absolutely amazing. We will finally see Rafer Alston blossom, since Dwight Howard is a very different big man from Yao. As for the Rockets, even if this deal isn't meant to immediately address T-Mac's absence, it couldn't help but be made with a McGrady-less future in mind. Again, it's either evidence of confidence in Brooks, a whole new way to look at Lowry, or maybe even both.

This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.