The Rockets went shopping, taking with them a long list of items they wanted and a valuable and large expiring contract to spend to get them.

When they were done, they got everything they wanted, spent a bit more than planned, and declared themselves thrilled with the haul.

To bring in the high-scoring Kevin Martin from Sacramento and high-flying rookie Jordan Hill from New York, the Rockets not only had to ship Tracy McGrady as planned, with McGrady landing with the Knicks, they had to send Carl Landry, their second-leading scorer, along with Joey Dorsey and cash to the Kings.

“Kevin Martin is someone who is a unique talent on the offensive end,” Rockets general manager Daryl Morey said. “We feel he fits very well this year and maybe fits even better next year with the team we have there. He can really shoot it from distance, can attack the basket, a foul drawer to get us in the bonus for Yao Ming — just a unique, unique offensive talent. I think the city of Houston is going to be big fans of his.

“We felt we needed a wing scorer, especially with Tracy McGrady going out. If you look at that one ability to put the ball in the basket without using a lot of time shooting at the hoop, he’s been top 10 in the league fairly consistently across his career.”

The Rockets also will receive reserve center Hilton Armstrong from Sacramento and forward Jared Jeffries from New York. For taking on Jeffries’ contract for one more season, the Rockets get the right to exchange 2011 first-round picks with the Knicks (unless New York gets the No. 1 pick of that year’s draft) and will receive the Knicks’ 2012 first-round pick (unless it falls in the top five of the draft). If the Knicks should somehow remain in the top five of the draft for four years, the pick will convert to two second-round picks in 2015.

The Kings had been steadfast in their desire to keep Martin but in recent days had decided to entertain offers to get a low-post scorer. After long seeking Martin in exchange for McGrady’s contract, the Rockets suddenly had an opening to get him, expanding that trade to a three-team deal with the Knicks.

Injuries seen as ‘fluky’

Duane Burleson/AP

Morey said Martin’s injuries the past two seasons — a sprained ankle last season and a broken wrist this season — were “fluky” and not too great a concern.

“We studied that closely,” Morey said. “We feel his injury history was a risk worth taking. He has no issues going forward.”

Martin is the only player in NBA history to average eight free throws a game and make better than 40 percent of his 3-pointers in a season, and he has done it twice. He has ranked in the top 10 in the NBA in free throws made in each of the last three seasons, averaging 22.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.3 in that stretch. When he scored his career high of 50 points, he set an NBA record for fewest field goals (11) in a 50-point game, going 23-of-26 from the line.

In his fifth season out of Western Carolina, Martin is averaging 19.8 points. He came back from a broken wrist suffered on a fall early in the season.

The Rockets were able to bring back four players while trading three because Garrett Temple’s 10-day contract expired. But according to a person with knowledge of the Rockets’ planning, the team will work on a buyout of little-used forward Brian Cook’s contract to create a roster spot to sign a backup point guard, likely Temple, depending on how much more time Kyle Lowry will miss.

Upside on Hill

Hill, an Arizona teammate of Rockets rookie Chase Budinger and the eighth player taken in the draft last June, has played in just 24 games, averaging 4.1 points in an average of 10.5 minutes. A 6-10 power forward who did not start playing organized basketball until his junior year in high school, Hill is considered a long-term project, but one with a high-energy game and outstanding athleticism to play above the rim.

“We like his potential,” Morey said. “We liked him in the draft last year. He has a mid-range jumper and developing post game with a righthanded hook. Defensively, he is very active, mobile for his size, a solid rebounder.

“We’re very happy. Time will tell in the deal, but we came into the deadline with some goals to upgrade our wing scoring and to give ourselves players who can help us now and in the future, and we feel good about what we were able to do.”

Staff writer Jeffrey Martin contributed to this report.

jonathan.feigen@chron.com