The Philadelphia 76ers and Robert Covington have finalized a four-year extension worth $62 million as The Process continues to hit its stride.
The Philadelphia 76ers have finalized a deal that will give forward Robert Covington a contract extension worth $62 million over four years. The extension will begin this season with a renegotiation of his $1.57 million salary to $15 million. It is the largest salary single-season figure negotiated since it became an available contractual avenue in the NBA.
Covington will be a Sixer through at least the 2021-22 season, foregoing the restricted free agent market this offseason. He would have been an unrestricted free agent this summer if both sides were unable to work out a deal prior to the offseason.
Covington is averaging 16.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.5 steals through 15 games so far this season. He’s shooting 49.7 percent from the floor and 49.1 percent from 3-point range for Philadelphia.
He’s one of the top 3-and-D players in the Eastern Conference this season. The fifth-year forward finished third in Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2016-17.
Covington has made at least one 3-point field goal in every game so far this season. He drained seven 3-pointers in the team’s season opener against the Washington Wizards, finishing with 29 points despite the loss.
Robert Covington lighting it up in the 1st quarter as the Sixers lead the Warriors #HereTheyCome pic.twitter.com/ldoRcp897Z
— Armchair NBA (@ArmchairNBA) November 19, 2017
Covington was also a key player in their near-upset of the Golden State Warriors on Saturday night. He made 4-of-6 3-pointers in the first half to power the starters. He didn’t have a strong second half, but it’s apparent Covington will be a solid player in the Sixers’ rotation.
The extension of Covington gives Philadelphia some flexibility in the free agent market. The Sixers could have $25 million in cap space this offseason if all goes according to plan.
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He signed with the team in Nov. 2014 after being waived by the Houston Rockets and has become a staple on the Philadelphia 76ers’ roster ever since. He’s had quite the journey since going undrafted out of Tennessee State in the 2013 NBA Draft.