Coach Adelman and the Rockets parted ways following the 2010–11 season, and Lowry initially clashed with new head coach Kevin McHale. In the lockout-shortened 66-game 2011–12 season, Lowry appeared in 47 games with 38 starts, missing 16 games over March and April with a bacterial infection that required hospitalization. With Lowry out, backup point guard Goran Dragić played well in his absence, and the Rockets decided they could trade Lowry to improve their salary cap issues and acquire draft picks during the offseason.