1. Robert Covington to be traded
Having an NBA All-Defensive First Team forward on your roster is not something to be taken lightly.
In just his fourth full season in the league, Robert Covington made full use of his 6-foot-9 frame and 7-foot-2 wingspan in becoming one of the most destructive perimeter defenders in the game.
One of just three players in the league last season to compile at least 120 steals and 70 blocks, while also leading the league with 3.9 deflections per game, the Sixers were an incredible 8.4 points per 100 possessions better off defensively when Covington was on the floor last season.
So while the 27-year-old was elite defensively, it was his offensive game that dipped significantly as the season progressed.
Here’s how Covington fared over the course of the season
- First 15 games: 16.7 PPG, 49.4 FG%, 48.7 3P%
- Next 65 games: 11.7 PPG, 39.2 FG%, 33.9 3P%
- 10 playoff games: 8.1 PPG, 32.5 FG%, 31.3 3P%
Such was his drop-off in offensive production, that in the midst of the Sixers’ second-round playoff matchup with the Boston Celtics, head coach Brett Brown inserted backup point guard T.J. McConnell into the starting lineup in place of Covington.
In fact over the course of the five-game series against the Celtics, the Sixers were a whopping 15.1 points per 100 possessions worse off on the offensive end when Covington was on the floor.
Robert Covington needs to be better. He's been a star one night, then a dud the next—not just this series but his entire career. We've especially seen that this series with goose eggs in Games 1 & 3 (a combined 0-for-14 for 4 points) contrasted by 22 points on 15 shots in Game 2.
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) May 6, 2018
Ultimately, a new season brings about a renewed sense of hope and optimism for all involved with the Sixers, in particular Covington.
While his defensive exploits are unquestioned, finding a consistent level of production offensively, in particular from 3-point range, is going to be crucial if the Sixers are to take the next step.
However if things don’t pan out as planned, look for Covington to become the first casualty if a shakeup is executed.