The Philadelphia 76ers definitely brought the fireworks this offseason as they registered the most eventful free agency in the association. Having brought in Paul George to add to their already-fearsome duo in Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey while also signing floor-raising role players, the team is now widely pegged as a bona fide championship contender next season.
While the 76ers seem set for now, they actually still have a couple of openings on their standard roster that they could fill before training camp opens a tad more than a month from now. The front office has been busy weighing their options, but one former Sixer has somehow faced a pretty dry market in free agency.
76ers fan favorite Robert Covington somehow remains unsigned in free agency
Robert Covington, who returned to Philadelphia last season afterf spending 4.5 seasons with the franchise in his first go-round with the 76ers, finds himself unplucked off the market — a surprising development for a player who was the poster child of the three-and-D prototype not too long ago.
While now at 33 years old, Covington remains a defensive analytics darling and a household name for those infatuated with advanced stats. Still, he is impactful on that end even from the eye test, and contenders should be lining up for his services, especially for the veteran’s minimum.
Unfortunately, his role has drastically reduced in the past couple of years. He’s nowhere near unplayable, but the Clippers touted too many forwards with overlapping skills to his that limited his court time. Meanwhile, in his second stint with the 76ers, injuries severely limited his appearances, only playing 26 games last season for Philly.
Nevertheless, Covington is an easy sell for any team in dire need of a defensive boost, especially at forward. However, his injury history and growing futility on offense are also valid deterrents for potential buyers.
The 76ers could actually use a player like Covington, but the rumor mill has been mum on that regard. Hopefully, the former All-Defensive Team member can find a new home for next season that can maximize his skills, especially as a stopper.