After an offseason headlined by blockbuster additions and heady signings, the Philadelphia 76ers are in a great position to mount a formidable bid for the championship this season. This is the best chance for the franchise to snap its longstanding title drought, but for Dominick Barlow, the team's current makeup might not work in his best interests individually as he seeks to re-establish his footing on the squad.
This past season, Barlow spent most of the regular season starting games for the 76ers as their main power forward. However, right when the postseason was about to begin, the coaching staff decided to slowly push him out of the rotation, a tough choice that ended up being fully actualized come playoff time, when he ended up riding the bench. Unfortunately, that could once again be the case for the young big man.
Dominick Barlow might be the odd man out as 76ers mount their title bid
Unlike last season, the 76ers have more playable bodies in the frontcourt. Aside from LeBron James, the front office also brought in Dean Wade in free agency to play the role Barlow filled last season as a low-usage, defensive-minded complementary piece whom the coaches can plug into different lineups.
Obviously, those upgrades are just what the 76ers need to bolster their cause. However, on an individual level, that leaves little room for Barlow to fully showcase his growth in his second year with the franchise.
Right now, Barlow is firmly behind James and Wade in the depth chart at power forward. Hence, the best track for him to get more minutes is to show the team that he can be a feasible option as a full-time center. Right now, the 76ers do not have a clear-cut option to their backup behind Joel Embiid.
Barlow's best trait is his defensive range and versatility. He is the most spry big man the 76ers have, and his knack for the intangibles won the team some games last season. However, for him to get consistent minutes, he needs to be better at securing boards and, more importantly, being a real weapon on the offensive end.
Barlow told the media this summer that he has been working on his three-point shot, his lack of which being the main reason why he fell out of favor in the rotation last season. If he can be a real threat from beyond the arc, he should have a much easier time entrenching himself in the coaches' regular rotation.
Evidently, Dominick Barlow has a very slim margin of error this season. If he wants to remain a part of the franchise, he has to show real growth in his weaker areas. Otherwise, even a consistent spot in the rotation could be out of reach for him, given that the 76ers have too many secure options this time around to be patient enough, and wait for him to develop.
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