HOUSTON — The Houston Rockets wanted to draft guard Kyle Lowry in 2006 but couldn't swing a deal to get him.

Nearly three years later they pulled it off, and Lowry's glad they did.

"They're excited to have us and we're definitely excited to be here," he said Friday, the day after the Rockets acquired Lowry from Memphis and forward Brian Cook from Orlando in a three-team deal that sent veteran point guard Rafer Alston to the Magic. "I'm loving it and I'm happy."

Lowry and Cook passed their physicals in Houston and could be in uniform when the Rockets play Dallas on Friday night.

Memphis drafted the 6-foot Lowry with the 24th pick in 2006.

Houston drafted Aaron Brooks in 2007 and now has Lowry and another big man with perimeter range in Cook. The 6-foot-9 Cook was shooting a career-best 44 percent from 3-point range this season for Orlando.

The loss of Alston moves Brooks into the starting point-guard role, with Lowry eventually backing him up.

Brooks is averaging 10.3 points and 2.6 assists in 52 games. He's started only seven games this season, but the Rockets have liked what they've seen enough to give him the job full-time.