NBA: Ranking 30 best power forwards for 2019-20

Robert Covington‘s first run with the Minnesota Timberwolves after being part of the Jimmy Butler trade in November was cut short by a right knee injury that kept him out of action after the New Year.

Back and healthy, Covington will be asked to step into the role vacated at the 4 with the departures of Dario Saric (traded to the Phoenix Suns) and Taj Gibson (signed with the New York Knicks as a free agent).

He’s got the size at 6-foot-9 and 225 pounds to pull it off and the former undrafted free agent is already a top-tier perimeter defender, earning All-Defensive honors with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2017-18.

Covington fits the mold of a stretch 4 well. He averaged 14.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.3 steals and 1.1 blocks in 34.7 minutes per game in his 22 starts after the trade, shooting 43.3 percent overall and 37.2 percent on 6.7 3-point attempts per game.

Covington is relatively efficient in the restricted area (63 percent shooting) and converted 47.1 percent of his attempts from deep mid-range as well.

Minnesota missed the playoffs last season, but might have been able to hang around in the race longer had Covington been healthy for the second half of the season. The Wolves were 5.5 points better per 100 possessions with RoCo on the floor.

The position change also opens the door for Andrew Wiggins to remain at the 3. If he can make an actual leap and play some defense, Minnesota could be an improved group in 2019-20.