The Houston Rockets are trading Robert Covington to Portland for veteran forward Trevor Ariza and two first-round draft picks, as first reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
The first of the two picks is Portland’s No. 16 overall selection in Wednesday’s 2020 draft. The second is a protected pick in 2021.
Covington, a 6-foot-8 forward, averaged 11.6 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks in 33.0 minutes per game with the Rockets last season. He turns 30 years old next month, and is signed for the next two seasons at approximately $12.5 million per season.
Meanwhile, the 35-year-old Ariza previously played in Houston during the 2009-10 season and from 2014-15 through 2017-18. He averaged 8.0 points (37.0% on 3-pointers) and 4.6 rebounds in 28.2 minutes per game last season with the Sacramento Kings and Portland Trail Blazers.
Both Covington and Ariza are well regarded for their defense, versatility, and locker-room presence, but Covington is more than five years younger. Thus, Portland had to pay the premium in draft picks.
Trevor Ariza has a $12.8M contract with $1.8M guaranteed. Full amount will get guaranteed (11/20) to make the money work with the Robert Covington $12.1M contract.
Ariza on an expiring and Covington under contract thru 2021/22.
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) November 17, 2020
Ariza’s $12.8-million contract for the 2020-21 season was a team option, but it is being picked up to facilitate the trade for Covington’s salary, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks. Ariza also has a strong relationship with Rockets star James Harden from their four previous seasons as teammates, and that could potentially be uuseful as Houston attempts to bring Harden back into the fold after a recent trade request.
The Covington-Ariza swap will not be finalized until after Wednesday’s draft, since the Trail Blazers are not allowed to trade first-round draft picks in consecutive years (Stepien rule). They can, however, make the trade after the 2020 selection is officially a player.
If Houston retains the 2020 pick and does not move it in a subsequent deal, it would effectively be the team’s first selection in the draft’s opening round since Sam Dekker in 2015. (Technically, Portland would be announced as making the No. 16 pick, but Houston would make the call.)
Trevor Ariza is really close with James Harden!!! Carry on… https://t.co/uQtD6BqrZS
— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) November 17, 2020
This trade is post draft because of the 2020 and 2021 first. Can trade the draft rights of a player but not back-back picks. https://t.co/H6UGlrEt13
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) November 17, 2020
.png?w=600)
