When it came to the Philadelphia 76ers' blockbuster summer, there were a handful of players who were on the losing side of the LeBron James and Jaylen Brown pickups. Dominick Barlow went from potentially holding a backup power forward spot to getting knocked down to No. 3 at best on the depth chart.
It would have to take a major preseason performance for the Sixers to even consider giving Barlow a daily role in the rotation at the four spot if and when the frontcourt is healthy.
But there is an interesting opportunity in front of Barlow. He might not be seen as a traditional center, but the Sixers might not have a choice but to try out the 23-year-old at the backup five spot behind Joel Embiid. With injuries loading up within a position that's lacking depth already, the Sixers have to get creative early on in training camp.
Barlow needs to get back soon
Currently, Barlow is out of the mix for the Sixers. When they held the Blue and White scrimmage over the weekend, Barlow wasn't a part of the action. That remained the case when the Sixers hosted the New York Knicks for the first game of the preseason on Monday night.
Before the action, 76ers head coach Nick Nurse addressed Barlow's absence, noting that he has been "in and out of stuff" in recent days due to a back injury. The Sixers aren't operating with the idea that it's a long-term setback. Good--because they might need him back as soon as possible.
At the start of training camp, the 76ers ruled out Adem Bona for multiple weeks due to a foot injury. He'll get evaluated soon, but the Sixers don't have a target date in place for his return. As for Ariel Hukporti, he went down with an injury scare on Monday night against his former team. Considering it was a non-contact setback and Hukporti needed crutches when he was seen in the second half, it's clear that he could be out long enough for the Sixers to begin exploring long-term backup plans.
That's where a guy like Barlow comes in. The Sixers know that he can play, but they just need to see some improvements from last year. The veteran appeared in 71 games with the Sixers, averaging 23.8 minutes on the court. He produced averages of 7.7 points 4.8, rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game.
The 76ers will certainly weigh their options, but considering Barlow as a potential backup center when Joel Embiid or Bona is out is a real option for the 76ers. The fifth-year veteran needs to get back on the court and prove he's the right guy for the job.
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