Jordan Hill will play tonight for the Los Angeles Lakers, despite being charged with third-degree felony assault, head coach Mike Brown has said.

Head coach Mike Brown on Jordan Hill’s availability for tonight: “He’s playing.” #fb

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) May 1, 2012

The 24-year-old is accused of choking his girlfriend during an altercation that took place Feb. 29 in Houston, Texas. The fight was reportedly a result of a conversation about the couple’s future. The victim allegedly threw Hill’s cell phones to the floor, which reportedly instigated the assault.

Hill averaged 4.7 points and 4.4 rebounds in 11:41 per contest since being traded to the Lakers at the trade deadline.

Jordan Hill of the Los Angeles Lakers is accused of choking his longtime girlfriend during an argument at his Houston area residence, according to a local ABC affiliate.

Hill’s girlfriend told police that Hill assaulted and choked her, causing bruising to her body and restricting her breathing, on Feb. 29 when Hill lived in the area and played for the Houston Rockets.

The girlfriend says she flew into Houston from Florida to see him, and they got into an argument about their future. She alleges that Hill then punched her in the legs, grabbed her, pulled her off the couch, dragged her and threw her against a wall.

Police have obtained photos of the injuries from Hill’s girlfriend that were consistent with her statements. Hill is charged with assault of a family member. No bond has been set in the case.

Derek Fisher has been the point guard of the Los Angeles Lakers for the better part of a year and a half, but now no longer. Yahoo! Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski reports that Fisher is on the move to the Houston Rockets.

The Lakers have traded Derek Fisher to the Rockets for Jordan Hill and a first-round pick, league source tells Y! Sports.

—
Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) March 15, 2012

This comes just minutes after the Lakers made another notable deal involving a point guard, landing Ramon Sessions in a trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers. In effect, the Lakers have swapped out Fisher for a younger model in Sessions, added a decent young big man to their bench in Jordan Hill, and moved up in the draft from their own first-round pick to Houston’s. Not a bad day for L.A.

Fisher, who turns 38 in August, was averaging 5.9 points and 3.3 assists per game as the Lakers’ starter this season. He played only 25.6 minutes per game, often subbing out in crunch time for Steve Blake.

Hill was averaging 5.0 points and 4.8 rebounds off the bench for Houston. He should make an immediate impact in L.A. as a suitable backup for Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol.

Houston Rockets forward Jordan Hill injured his right knee in practice today, according to the Associated Press. He is expected to miss at least two weeks.

Hill’s injury is a sprained MCL in his right knee, according to Dr. Walter Lowe.

The second-year big man is averaging 5.0 points and 4.9 rebounds per game for the Rockets this season.

Houston’s first game without Hill comes tomorrow night, when the Rockets host the Utah Jazz at the Toyota Center.