The Sixer Sense
Fansided

Philadelphia 76ers: Where Robert Covington ranks among all starting small forwards

By Christopher Kline

Brandon Ingram, Los Angeles Lakers | Robert Covington, Philadelphia 76ers (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)
Brandon Ingram, Los Angeles Lakers | Robert Covington, Philadelphia 76ers (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 11
Next
(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /

18. Trevor Ariza, Phoenix Suns

The Suns are looking to compete, which means throwing veterans on the court next to Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton. With Ryan Anderson slotted to become their starting power forward, Ariza seems like the probable small forward in that equation.

While I don’t necessarily agree with bringing both Josh Jackson and Mikal Bridges off the bench, Ariza is probably the best player right now. He brought a lot of value to the Rockets’ championship push last season, offering some much-needed defensive versatility on the wing.

17. Jabari Parker, Chicago Bulls

Parker is a natural four, something that be emphasized time and time again this offseason. But the Bulls made a bet on talent, signing the former No. 2 pick to a lucrative contract that can end after one season.

The Bulls will be trying to win games next season, and Parker will be at the forefront of those efforts. He’s still a skilled scorer with plenty of tricks in his bag, and averaging 20+ points per game is on the table. The only question mark is defense, where Parker has underwhelmed in years past.

16. DeMarre Carroll, Brooklyn Nets

Carroll put together a strong 2017-18 season with the rebuilding Nets, providing a much-needed veteran presence on the wing. He hasn’t lived up to the post-60 win Hawks hype, but he remains an effective defender and skilled complementary scorer.