It's a no-risk, no-brainer deal for talented Houston

It doesn't match a Lamar Odom deal on the glitz meter, but it is an important step to the future that adds one prospect (Greene) and the path to another with the '09 first-rounder without taking on a bad contract as the price for leaving Artest by the roadside.

Even if Jackson contributes little, he potentially comes off the cap as a free agent at the end of the season, just as Artest would have. He can be flipped into another building block before the trade deadline, when some playoff hopeful will be looking for veteran help.

And if Jackson stays the entire season and plays a minor role, it undoubtedly will be with little trouble. Unlike some people.

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