Houston Rockets trade Robert Covington to Portland Trail Blazers for Trevor Ariza

Veteran swingman Trevor Ariza of Miami, Florida is on his way back to Houston. On Monday according to Jonathan Soveta of The Score, Ariza was traded from the Portland Trail Blazers to the Houston Rockets for center Robert Covington. In addition to Ariza, the Rockets will receive the first-round draft pick in the 2020 and 2021 NBA Drafts.

This will actually be the third time that the 35-year-old Ariza is joining the Rockets. He previously played in Houston from 2009-10, and again from 2014 to 2018. Ariza has also been a player for the New York Knicks, Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans Hornets, Washington Wizards, Phoenix Suns, and Sacramento Kings, in addition to the Trail Blazers.

Last season, Ariza shared his time with Sacramento and Portland. In 53 games, Ariza averaged eight points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.7 assists. He also had a field goal percentage of .438, a three-point percentage of .372, and a free throw percentage of .838.

Covington is a 29-year-old center from Bellwood, Illinois. The Trail Blazers become Covington’s fourth NBA team. In addition to the Rockets, Covington has played for the Philadelphia 76ers and Minnesota Timberwolves.  Covington shared his time with the Rockets and Timberwolves in 2019-20. He averaged 12.4 points per game, a career-high 6.6 rebounds per game, 1.6 steals per game, and tied a career-high with 1.3 blocks per game. Covington had a .422 field goal percentage, .798 free throw percentage, and a .335 three-point percentage.

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Jusuf Nurkic is expected to be the starting center for Portland in 2020-21 after missing most of the season with a broken fibula and tibia he suffered during the 2018-2019 season. That means Covington is projected to move from center to small forward. Meanwhile, in Houston, Ariza might see significantly more playing time in 2020-21 if the Rockets decide to move their disgruntled dynamic duo of Russell Westbrook and James Harden.

Update: Ariza has since been traded to the Detroit Pistons. 

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