Who won the Houston Rockets trade of Robert Covington?

After the Houston Rockets sent Robert Covington to the Portland Trail Blazers for Trevor Ariza, the question must now be asked regarding who won the trade.

The Houston Rockets are finalizing a trade with the Portland Trail Blazers that will send Robert Covington to the Blazers in return for Trevor Ariza, the 16th pick in the 2020 draft, and a protected 2021 first-round pick. The deal will have to wait to be finalized until the NBA draft on Wednesday night.

The Rockets acquired Robert Covington last season in a four-team trade that saw them send a first-round pick to the Denver Nuggets and Clint Capela to the Atlanta Hawks. After only 22 games in Houston, Covington is again on the move in a career that has seen him be traded each of the past three seasons.

Covington cost the Rockets a tremendous amount to obtain but he was a marvelous small-ball center in his time in Houston. His defensive versatility and ability to stretch the floor made him a perfect fit for the Rockets’ bold micro-ball lineups.

The Rockets trade of Covington signals their intent to dismantle their current roster for assets. With James Harden and Russell Westbrook looking for avenues out of Houston, the Rockets are rightly looking to build for the future. Here’s how the trade will affect the Rockets this season and beyond.

Next: How will the trade affect the Rockets' chances in 2020-21?