NEW YORK (AP) Reserve forward Clarence Weatherspoon was traded Tuesday from the New York Knicks to the Houston Rockets for point guard Moochie Norris and center John Amaechi.

It was the first trade engineered by Isiah Thomas, coming just eight days after he took over for fired Knicks team president Scott Layden.

The Knicks had been in buyout talks with Weatherspoon, who is signed for two more seasons for $12.2 million. Instead, Thomas found a trading partner in the Rockets who have been in need of frontcourt depth ever since they suspended and then released forward Eddie Griffin.

Houston coach Jeff Van Gundy criticized his team Monday night after a loss to Seattle, pointing out the lack of rebounding as one of the team's main flaws.

``I'm just thinking about how we can get better. Obviously, we're not good enough,'' Van Gundy said.

Weatherspoon, an 11-year veteran, averaged at least five rebounds in every season before this one. He appeared in 15 games for the Knicks before being placed on the injured list shortly after Thomas was hired. He averaged 3.8 points and 3.3 rebounds.

In Norris, the Knicks are adding another point guard to a roster that already includes three _ newly installed starter Frank Williams and veterans Howard Eisley and Charlie Ward. Norris was the backup to Steve Francis in Houston, where he averaged 2.7 points and 1.6 assists this season.

Norris' career averages are 6.2 points and 3.5 assists for Houston, Seattle and Vancouver.

Amaechi, acquired by the Rockets during the preseason for Glen Rice, has been on Houston's injured list all season.

The Knicks made two other roster moves, placing forward Michael Sweetney (knee tendinitis) and backup center Michael Doleac (back spasms) on the injured list.