The Houston Rockets were one of the biggest winners of the recently-concluded trade season, with the team adding a substantial piece in veteran swingman Robert Covington. The Rockets, however, had to part ways with starting big man Clint Capela — among others — who was actually having another outstanding season with the squad.
Rockets general manager Daryl Morey recently shed some light on the thought process the team underwent in their decision to pull the trigger on this franchise-altering deal.
“Clint is a great player and great human,” Morey started, via Mark Media of USA Today. “He was an amazing Rocket and is definitely going to be missed. Obviously he’s going to do great in Atlanta. The reason to do this is James Harden. I think the key to winning a championship is get superstars who are great players. We have that with Westbrook and Harden, and then get the right fit and the right style around them. With Mike’s approach with shooting and space, that’s where we’re at our best. Adding a Covington where we can shore up our perimeter defense and also be a top-notch shooter is a huge part of our ability to play that way. We’re ready to go to battle.”
Simply put, Capela was good, but Covington is a better fit.
Morey then went on to share his excitement with their recent acquisition.
“We’re obviously excited,” he said. “Covington is a guy we’ve been trying to get for a long time. (Coach) Mike (D'Antoni) has really figured out how to most maximize our two superstars and style of play. We’re excited to put it on the floor and start beating up on people.”
Covington instantly paid dividends to his new employer, logging 14 points (on 5-of-9 shooting), four triples, eight rebounds, four assists, two steals, and two blocks in his debut on Wednesday, as he helped Houston to a huge 121-111 victory against the Los Angeles Lakers.
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