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Portland Trail Blazers trade Trevor Ariza to Rockets for Robert Covington

ByStevie Cozens|
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 06: Robert Covington #33 of the Houston Rockets dribbles the ball during the first quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Two of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 06, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 06: Robert Covington #33 of the Houston Rockets dribbles the ball during the first quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Two of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 06, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)

The Portland Trail Blazers have traded Trevor Ariza, and two first-round picks to the Houston Rockets for Robert Covington.

NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski has shared that the Portland Trail Blazers have traded Trevor Ariza and two first-round picks to the Houston Rockets for Robert Covington.

The first-round picks are the Blazers 2020 first-round selection ( number 16) and their 2021 first-round pick.

The Rockets are now looking like they are about to blow things up, with potential trades pending for Russell Westbrook and James Harden. They get two first-round picks back, as well as getting off future money in Covington.

For the Blazers, they drastically improve their defense while getting two years of team control on the 29-year-old Covington. He can play both the three and the four while being one of the best help defenders in the NBA.

Ariza was only going to be a rental for the Blazers this season, so moving on from him made sense. The two first-round picks were only fringe picks, so these aren’t a massive loss. This trade significantly improves the Blazers, especially on defense, where they ranked a lowly 27th in the 2019/20 season.

More details to come on the protection of picks.