After their most recent win, the 76ers retained their stronghold on the top post in the East with nine wins and just two losses so far. That clearly indicates early success for this revamped group, but that actually masks some of the obvious flaws on the roster. Their backup big man situation is definitely one of those, and a player expected to give them a lift in that regard, Dominick Barlow, has not even sniffed the court yet due to injury. At this rate, it wouldn't be surprising to see him head out sooner than expected.
Barlow missed the entirety of the preseason due to a back injury, an absence that has persisted through the start of the regular season. The 76ers are in dire need of more depth behind Joel Embiid, and while the team appears to remain interested in seeing what he can bring to the table, if he still cannot suit up in the near future, his very footing on the roster could very well be in peril.
The 76ers might run out of patience with Dominick Barlow this season
Last season, the young big man emerged as a breakout player for the 76ers, rapidly outplaying his two-way contract. The front office recognized him for his efforts, earning a standard NBA contract midway through the campaign. Now, he is on an expiring deal, making this a make-or-break season for him.
Unfortunately, there is no way the 76ers are going to want to commit to him, given that he has not even suited up yet. To make things more complicated, despite the team's ongoing need for another player of his ilk, he will have a smaller margin of error when (or if) he returns given the improved play of Jabari Walker and the addition of Dean Wade –– two players who provide the same defensive range as him without the clunkier fit on offense thanks to their ability to space the floor.
Be that as it may, the front office will most likely still be on the hunt for another center to shore up their depth in the position, and Barlow is a tad dangling as an undersized big man and a natural power forward. As such, it is becoming increasingly likely that he might end up becoming one of the first players to cut ties with to free up a spot when that point of reckoning arrives, either through a trade or by getting waived.
Philly got one serviceable year from Dominick Barlow, but with the way things are going, there might be no plurality on sight in that regard. While he was a feel-good story last season, the franchise has a much more ambitious goal this season, and they may no longer have the required patience to wait for him to suit up, adjust, and come around.
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