Report: Rockets to trade Covington to Trail Blazers for Ariza, picks

The Houston Rockets are trading forward Robert Covington to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for forward Trevor Ariza, a 2020 first-round pick, and a protected first-round pick in 2021, reports ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

The 2020 first-round pick going to the Rockets is the 16th selection in Wednesday's draft, Wojnarowski adds.

The deal cannot be completed until after Wednesday's event due to rules preventing teams from trading their future first-round picks in back-to-back drafts, according to ESPN's Bobby Marks.

Covington averaged 11.6 points and eight rebounds in 22 games with the Rockets last season while operating as a makeshift center. Houston acquired the 29-year-old ahead of last season's trade deadline as the team shifted to a new, center-less lineup.

With Portland, Covington is likely to revert back to his traditional role on the perimeter as the team already features Jusuf Nurkic at the five.

For Ariza, the exchange brings the 35-year-old swingman back to Houston for a third time. The 16-year veteran played 72 games for the Rockets during the 2009-10 season before returning for a four-year stint from 2014-18.