With Jeremy Lin back in town for the first time since the Rockets dealt him to the Lakers, the Rockets are eager to cash in the trade chip they picked up in that deal.

The Rockets have been actively seeking to deal the $8.34 million trade exception that came with the Lin trade in a change to their original strategy, according to a person familiar with their trade talks around the league.

The Rockets have talked to teams about 10 to 12 players, the individual familiar with the trade talks said. They had been expected to wait until more players were eligible to be traded, either after Dec. 15 when players signed in the off-season can be dealt or more likely at the February trade deadline.

The Rockets, however, determined that there might not be a large enough increase in potential trade targets in December and that a deal now could actually strengthen their options in February, particularly if seeking a larger deal for a more coveted player.

The Rockets have been in talks with the Minnesota Timberwolves about Corey Brewer, long a Rockets trade target. ESPN.com initially reported on Sunday that the Rockets and Cavaliers have pursued Brewer, who has two years remaining on his contract.

By using their trade exception from the Lin deal, the Rockets would technically be completing that trade, potentially offering only draft picks rather than players in a deal.

The Rockets’ strategy in current trade talks would be to add any player that could help strengthen the rotation, rather than to seek a player at a specific position.

Power forward Terrence Jones is out indefinitely with a bruised nerve in his right leg, forcing the Rockets to use rookies Tarik Black, a center, and Kostas Papanikolaou, generally a small forward, as backup power forwards.

Deals for top frontcourt players that will be free agents next off-season such as Atlanta’s Paul Millsap or Detroit’s Greg Monroe are expected to be much more difficult to acquire so early in the season.

The Rockets, however, would rather bolster the rotation as quickly as possible, even with their 9-2 start to the season, with the Lin trade exception increasingly likely to be used long before the NBA trade market heats up.