A flurry of activity leading up to the NBA trading deadline just makes the final two months of the NBA’s regular season that much more compelling. The top 9 teams in the West have been separated by no more than 7 games for several weeks. A 3-game losing streak could mean the difference between being a top seed or missing the playoffs entirely. There were more big names moved this season, in-season, than I can ever recall. Jason Kidd (Dallas), Pau Gasol (LA Lakers) and Shaquille O’Neal (Phoenix) all now headline Western Conference powers. Each of the other teams in the hunt, aside from Denver, made a significant addition or two to their mix. That includes the Rockets, who were quiet for weeks and then in the last 12 hours before the whistle blew on trades, added 3 new players, while moving 3 players. Only 1 player being shipped out and 1 player that is coming aboard is likely to make a significant contribution.

Bonzi Wells, Mike James and Kirk Snyder were sent away in 2 separate deals, with Wells as the only one who was receiving significant playing time - if you call 7 points a game during their undefeated start to February significant. Gerald Green, Adam Haluska and Bobby Jackson join the Rockets, with only Jackson expected to give the Rockets any kind of assist this season. Jackson will be re-united with coach Rick Adelman, who was with him in Sacramento. But Jackson’s best days are certainly behind him as he’ll turn 35 in March. His numbers are sadly very similar to James’ and James has played less than 50 minutes over the last two months. Financially speaking the Rockets get out from under James’ two remaining years at a roughly $12 million total. Jackson’s contract pays about the same but he’s only signed through next season.

Green is still a major work-in-progress, but a player who is ecstatic about returning to town after going straight to the pros out of high school at Gulf Shores Academy in Houston. He is an above-average shooter and obviously a high-flyer, having won the NBA’s dunk contest in 2007, and finished 2nd this past weekend in New Orleans. But at age 22, he could still develop into a consistent contributor, however that does not appear to be imminent.

The Rockets are no better off than they were when the season began, and it’d be hard to argue that they are any better off than they were when GM Daryl Morey started making the personnel decisions for this team this past offseason. But it is not for a lack of trying. The Rockets were not blessed with many, if any, desirable commodities. He found a way to move Juwan Howard’s contract, then did the same with Mike James - when neither player was even seeing the court. He added Luis Scola, make that stole Luis Scola from the Spurs and both of his draft selections, G Aaron Brooks and F Carl Landry, look like keepers in this league. Drafting after the top 15 is more or less a big guessing game nowadays - and it looks like he hits twice with his choices.

Still the Western conference is just sickeningly talented and the Rockets are unlikely to be favored to win in the playoffs, something they have not done in more than a decade. Doesn’t mean it won’t be fun to follow, or that it can’t happen. That’s why they play the games.

Adam Wexler can be heard weeknights from 6-10 pm on SportsRadio 610 in Houston or online at sportsradio610.com.