The Philadelphia 76ers have not changed much from last season for the most part, but the team has brought in some much-needed reinforcements at various areas of need. One of those players who are new to the roster is Dominick Barlow, whom the front office somehow managed to add to the group via a two-way deal.
Despite his modest deal, Barlow has quickly become a high-impact role player for the 76ers. He started the season playing as the starting power forward, and while he eventually lost that spot due to his injury, he has remained rock-solid in his recent return from a minor ailment.
Barlow has been playing so well that at this point, he is putting immense pressure on sophomore big man Adem Bona to turn in consistent production in his limited minutes. But at this rate, he is sure to keep usurping him on the team’s pecking order of big men. At worst, Barlow’s surge could culminate in Bona being the odd man out.
Dominick Barlow is forcing the 76ers into tough discussions about Adem Bona
Bona was widely expected by 76ers fans to be the heir apparent to Joel Embiid, not as a direct replacement, but as someone who can log heavy minutes at center. He flashed some real glimpses of efficient two-way play late last season when he sniffed the court more due to the team’s revolving door of injuries. Even better, he gained some much-needed, high-level exposure at the Eurobasket for Team Turkey.
Instead, he has not made the kind of considerable leap everyone was expecting from him in Year 2. Veteran big man Andre Drummond has gotten most of the minutes with Embiid currently out of commission, while Barlow has emerged as the team’s go-to plug-and-play piece in the frontcourt.
Barlow’s impressive activity on both ends was on full display during the team’s latest loss on the road to the shorthanded Pistons. In 29 minutes of action, the two-way big man finished with 10 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and two blocks while also draining two of his three attempts from beyond the arc. That is the kind of all-around production Barlow has given so far, and it has undeniably been better than what Bona has supplied the team.
It’s only a matter of time until the 76ers convert Barlow‘s two-way deal into a standard NBA contract. And unless Bona starts to realize the promise he showed, Barlow will continue to slowly push him out of the current loop.