I have a related suspicion ... that Google made the deal in part because they believe Lenovo will run Motorola well, with goals compatible to Google and Android.

I don't think Google was ever into Motorola to make it pay. They were there for strategy, and Lenovo can do that too.

(Don't forget that Lenovo just bought IBM's x86 server business, and so is "going big.")

Update, sorry for the bad link http://www.pcworld.com/article/2090680/lenovo-agrees-to-buy-...