Report: Blazers acquire Robert Covington from Houston for Ariza, 1st-Rd pick

The Portland Trail Blazers have made a move prior to the upcoming NBA Draft this Wednesday.  Per reports, the Blazers acquired forward Robert Covington from the Houston Rockets in exchange for forward Trevor Ariza and  Portland’s first-round pick in this year’s draft, number sixteen overall, as well as an additional future first-round pick.

Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

To clarify: The Blazers are sending Houston the 16th pick in Wednesday’s draft and another future first-round pick, per sources. Deal can’t be finalized until after Wednesday’s draft. https://t.co/hvBf6JppS5

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 17, 2020

Per Basketball Reference, Covington shot 33.5% from three-point range last season with the Timberwolves and  Rockets, averaging  12.4 points per game, 6.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists.  He also added 1.6 steals and 1.3 blocks per game.  For his 7-year career, RoCo has per game averages of 12.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.7 steals and 2.2 blocks.

Covington will start his eighth NBA season in Portland, and will turn age 30 on December 14th.  The 2020-21 NBA season is set to begin on Dec. 22nd, with no fans in  attendance.

The Blazers are now without a first-round pick in Wednesday’s NBA Draft, but still have a second-round selection (No. 46 overall).

Our resident  NBA expert Peter Sampson chimed in his opinion on Twitter.

I was just telling @johncanzanobft and @JudahNewby on the show last week that this roster has a Robert Covington sized hole in it. This is a home run.

— Peter Sampson (@PeterSampson) November 17, 2020