Indiana Pacers: 3 players to trade for in 2018-19
By Owen Nelson
Robert Covington
The Philadelphia 76ers would likely be reluctant to trade 3-and-D specialist Robert Covington, especially to a conference rival. The former Tennessee State man provides amazing value for his relatively cheap contract of $62 million over four years.
Covington is the perfect illustration of a streaky shooter. For the first quarter of last season, he was knocking down around 50 percent of his 3-pointers. Then he went cold, for a long time. In the end, Covington made 36.9 percent of his 3-pointers, slightly above the league’s average.
Shooting isn’t his strongest asset, however. Covington happens to be one of the best perimeter defenders in the league — so much so, he was named in the NBA All-Defensive First Team last season. The 7’2″ wingspan that Covington owns causes so much damage in the passing lanes.
If Markelle Fultz is who the 76ers want and need him to be, and Covington finds himself in another major shooting drought, the Pacers may be able to snag a deal for him.