NBA NEWS

Lakers send G Williams to Rockets for Brewer, pick

The Sports Xchange

February 21, 2017 at 9:23 pm.

Feb 14, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Lou Williams (23) moves to the basket against Sacramento Kings forward Anthony Tolliver (43) during the first half at Staples Center. Photo Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Feb 14, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Lou Williams (23) moves to the basket against Sacramento Kings forward Anthony Tolliver (43) during the first half at Staples Center. Photo Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Magic Johnson wasted no time in his new role as the Los Angeles Lakers’ president of basketball operations, trading guard Lou Williams to the Houston Rockets on Tuesday, according to multiple media reports.

The Lakers reportedly received a 2017 first-round draft pick plus forward Corey Brewer in exchange for Williams. According to ESPN, the draft pick is unprotected.

Williams, 30, led the Lakers with an average of 18.6 points, 3.2 assists and 3.2 rebounds per game this season despite coming off the bench. The scoring average is the highest in his 12-year career. The Rockets hope he will continue to be an offensive sparkplug off the bench.

A second-round draft pick by the 76ers in 2005, Williams played in Philadelphia through the 2011-12 season. He then spent two seasons with the Atlanta Hawks before playing for the Lakers the past season and a half.

In 759 career games (90 starts), Williams has averages of 12.8 points, 2.9 assists and 2.1 rebounds.

Brewer, 30, is averaging 4.2 points, two rebounds and 1.1 assists this season in 58 games (eight starts). Selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the 2007 draft, Brewer also has played for the Dallas Mavericks and Denver Nuggets.

Earlier Tuesday, Johnson took over as the Lakers’ top basketball executive when the team also announced the firing of general manager Mitch Kupchak and vice president of basketball operations Jim Buss.