Nov 4, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat forward Chris Bosh (1) shoots over Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard (12) during the second half at American Airlines Arena. The Rockets won 108-91. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
The Lakers benefited from the Houston Rockets trade by also acquiring a first-round pick.
Houston and Miami were amid talks. Houston was planning to acquire Chris Bosh through free agency. They needed cap room to absorb his contract. In order to free up that cap room, they relinquished Jeremy Lin off the roster. As it worked out, Bosh decided to stay in Miami, Houston let the Lakers have Lin and a first-round pick just to absorb the contract, and the Lakers benefited from it all.