HOUSTON -- The Milwaukee Bucks traded point guard Mike James and center Zendon Hamilton to the Houston Rockets on Thursday in exchange for seldom-used Reece Gaines and two second-round picks.
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James will add much-needed depth in the Rockets' thin backcourt, which took another hit when starting point guard Bob Sura learned Wednesday that he would miss at least 10 days with a back injury.
Houston also sent disgruntled forward Maurice Taylor to the Knicks for guard Moochie Norris, forward Vin Baker and a second-round pick in 2006.
The Rockets had won eight consecutive games heading into the All-Star break but have lost two straight since Sura went down. With veteran Rod Strickland getting released Thursday, the only other point guard on Houston's roster is undrafted rookie Andre Barrett.
James was averaging 11.4 points a game, 3.9 assists and 2.6 rebounds with the Bucks this season. During his four-year career, James has also spent time with Miami, Boston and Detroit, where he won an NBA championship last season.
"Mike James is a talented point guard who gives us another offensive threat," Rockets general manager Carroll Dawson said. "We've been interested in Mike for some time now, and we really like the defensive toughness that he brings."
Hamilton, a 6-foot-11, 254-pounder, will give Houston little more than another big body behind All-Star center Yao Ming.
Hamilton has been with a different team in each of his five NBA seasons, playing for the Los Angeles Clippers, Denver, Toronto, Philadelphia and Milwaukee. He was averaging 3.2 points and 2.6 rebounds this season with the Bucks.
Gaines, in his second season, has played in only 10 games with the Rockets, averaging 2.6 points and 1.1 rebounds. The 15th pick in the 2003 draft, Gaines came to Houston in the big offseason trade with Orlando that also sent Tracy McGrady to the Rockets.
Milwaukee will also get the draft picks in 2006 and 2007.
The deal with the Knicks means Norris will return to the Rockets after spending a little more than two years away.
Norris played in Houston for five seasons, becoming a fan favorite because of his ever-changing hairstyles, including a towering Afro, and frenetic play. He was traded to the Knicks in the December 2003. He's averaging 2.6 points, 1.3 rebounds and 1.1 assists.
Baker was playing sparingly for the Knicks, averaging a team-low 1.4 points. The four-time All Star, in his 12th season, will join a Houston roster that already includes ex-Knicks Charlie Ward, Dikembe Mutombo and Clarence Weatherspoon.
