The Houston Rockets reportedly traded guard Jeremy Lin to the Los Angeles Lakers to create salary cap space for free agent Chris Bosh, whom Houston expects to sign soon. Houston also reportedly is expected to match the Dallas Mavericks' offer sheet to restricted free agent Chandler Parsons.
Houston shipped Lin, along with his $14.8 million contract, and a future first-round pick to Los Angeles. ESPN reported the deal is expected to be finalized by Sunday. For the Lakers, the move seems to indicate they have given up on signing a big-name free agent for next season.
Per ESPN:
"The Lakers were amenable to this deal, according to sources, because Lin is only under contract for one more season, thus preserving their cap space next summer. They also covet draft picks, after trading away their first-round picks in 2015 and 2017 to Phoenix and Orlando as part of the Steve Nash and Dwight Howard trades, respectively."
Dumping Lin's contract frees up space to sign Bosh. Reports from ESPN and Yahoo Sports indicated Bosh would accept Houston's contract offer if LeBron James didn't return to the Miami Heat. With James announcing his decision Friday to sign with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Bosh is expected to sign with Houston within the next couple of days.
The contract offered to Bosh is worth approximately $88 million over four years, according to ESPN.
Houston wants Bosh as a complement to star Dwight Howard. Bosh, a stretch-4, can help stretch the floor with his outside shot and create space in the paint for Howard to work.
The Rockets' next order of business, according to ESPN, is to match the Dallas Mavericks' offer sheet to Parsons. The Rockets have until 11:59 p.m. ET Sunday to match the $46 million offer sheet.
Re-signing Parsons, though, isn't a lock. Houston also reportedly is eying free agents Luol Deng, Trevor Ariza and Paul Pierce.
