Several member of the Houston Rockets stood around during warmups and looked down the court at the Timberwolves with envy, after learning of the Wolves' trade for Golden State big man Marc Jackson.

Houston, remember, was the team that signed Jackson as a restricted free agent last summer, only to have the Warriors match the six-year, $24.37 million offer sheet. Golden State didn't want Jackson -- it just didn't want to lose a valuable asset for nothing in return. The Rockets, however, wanted him desperately.

"This kills me. Kills me, kills me," Houston coach Rudy Tomjanovich said, in mock anguish, shortly before tipoff of his team's game against the Wolves Thursday night at Compaq Center. "We love the guy, and he's going to fit their team perfectly."

The Wolves obtained the 6-10, 270-pound power forward/center minutes before the trading deadline Thursday. In what vice president of basketball operations Kevin McHale termed a "last-second deal," the Wolves agreed to swap veteran center Dean Garrett and a 2007 second-round draft pick to Golden State.