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Robert Covington is being traded to the Portland Trail Blazers for Trevor Ariza and two first-round picks, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, Wojnarowski tweeted out the deal just minutes ago.
The Rockets are finalizing a trade to send Robert Covington to Portland for Trevor Ariza and 2020 first-round pick and 2021 protected first-round pick, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 17, 2020
The 29-year-old forward is a seven-year veteran with tours in Philadelphia and Minnesota as well as Houston. He’s played all three frontcourt positions during his career, though he stands just 6’7. He holds career averages of 12.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per game on 40.6% shooting from the field, 35.6% from the three-point arc. He played in 22 games with Houston last season, averaging 11.6 points and 8.0 rebounds in 33 minutes per game.
Ariza is on the final year of his contract, due to earn $12.8 million in the coming season. Covington will earn $12.1 million in 2020-21, $13.0 million in 2021-22.
Stay tuned, as our own Eric Griffith will be along soon with analysis of the trade, Covington’s history and utility, plus any cap implications.
UPDATE:
The 2021 first-round pick to be sent to the Rockets is lottery protected until 2027, after which it becomes a second-round pick, according to Dwight Jaynes of NBC Sports Northwest.