What the Philadelphia 76ers’ roster will look like after the February 5th NBA trade deadline is a mystery. But, Philadelphia has one goal in mind that triumphs everything else: securing Dominick Barlow for the long term. Barlow’s performance on Monday night put a bow on his job security in Philadelphia.
The 22-year-old totaled a career-high 26 points and 16 rebounds in the 76ers’ (28-21) 128-113 win over the Clippers (23-26) last night. Barlow dominated in the way he knew how: by making the extra effort. He was the first 76ers player since Charles Barkley in 1990 with at least 25 points and 10 offensive rebounds as a result.
Barlow set the tone in the first quarter, tallying 11 points and seven rebounds, which helped Philadelphia build a 19-point lead. While the Clippers have hit their stride as of late, Barlow exploited their nagging weakness: age. He routinely outworked Ivicia Zubac and John Collins off the glass on both ends of the floor, exploiting a team that places 28th in the NBA in rebounds per game.
Los Angeles couldn’t throw a wrench in Barlow’s motor, whether he cut from the baseline or powered through for a put-back opportunity. Philadelphia desperately needed a rebounding boost heading into the year, having jumped from 20th last season to ninth league-wide in offensive rebounding. Barlow creating extra chances was the swing factor in the 76ers’ fourth consecutive win.
Philadelphia tallied 14 offensive rebounds, 10 of which Barlow was responsible for and 28 second-chance points. The 22-year-old was also active defensively, adding two steals and operated well without the ball. Barlow even knocked down a spot-up three-pointer using a Tyrese Maxey assist in the fourth quarter.
His ability to fit in with Philadelphia’s top-end talent and provide intangible skills made converting him to a standard NBA contract a priority for the front office. With Paul George’s 25-game suspension, the 76ers received a $5.8 million credit, putting them only $1.3 million over the luxury tax threshold, down from $7 million previously.
Philadelphia has the flexibility to tap into the $14.1 million non-taxpayer mid-level exception to ink him to a long-term deal without having to shed additional salary. While the 76ers could make marginal upgrades, the main focus is seemingly on keeping Barlow for the long haul.
His potential conversion would be a just reward for his efforts this season. He became Philadelphia’s starting power forward on a two-way contract and largely maintained his role – a valiant accomplishment.