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Houston Rockets: Trading Covington does not necessarily signify a rebuild

ByJames Mueller|
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 23: Trevor Ariza #1 of the Houston Rockets drives to the basket against Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the game in Game Four of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 23, 2018 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Rockets defeated the Timberwolves 119-100. 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 Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 23: Trevor Ariza #1 of the Houston Rockets drives to the basket against Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the game in Game Four of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 23, 2018 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Rockets defeated the Timberwolves 119-100. 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 Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)

Does the fact that the Houston Rockets traded Robert Covington signify a full rebuild is underway? Possibly, but there could be another reason.

Trade season in the NBA is officially underway and one of the biggest storylines has been the Houston Rockets and their future.

Rumors have circulated around that both James Harden and Russell Westbrook have made it clear that they want to move on from Houston and find a new home which would force the Rockets to go into rebuilding mode.

Many have speculated that the rebuild in Houston is officially underway after it was reported that Houston reached an agreement to send Robert Covington to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Trevor Ariza and a 2020 and 2021 first-round draft pick.

While shipping Covington to the Trail Blazers could very well signify that the Rockets are tearing everything apart and rebuilding for the future, this trade could also mean that Houston is attempting one last run at the Larry O’Brien Trophy in the Harden era.

Covington is certainly a more valuable piece than Ariza since he is six years younger, but both players have the same role on the court: be an anchor defensively and knock down 3-pointers.

After beginning the 2019-2020 season as a King, Ariza was traded to the Trail Blazers and performed well. In Portland, Ariza averaged 11 points per game and shot 40 percent from 3-point range while also bringing high energy and effort on defense, as the veteran has done his entire career.

So while Ariza is older than Covington, he provides the Rockets with the same skills Covington did and also has a good relationship with many of the players, especially Harden, as this will be his third stint in Houston in his career.

So in some ways, this trade makes perfect sense for the Rockets whether they are planning on rebuilding or will attempt to run it back in 2021 because Houston is basically swapping  3-and-D wings with Portland while also bringing in draft picks, which the Rockets desperately needed after losing almost all their future picks when trading for Westbrook.

Therefore, new general manager Rafael Stone could very well convince Harden and Westbrook to give new coach Stephen Silas, who did wonders for Mavericks’ offense during his time as an assistant in Dallas, a chance to help the duo get the ring that has eluded them their entire careers.

And if the Houston Rockets are able to convince Harden and Westbrook to run it back in 2021 and they do fall short then they could very well trade Harden and/or Westbrook in 2021 offseason to bring in young assets and more future picks to add to the two they acquired from Portland for Covington.

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