Report: Robert Covington signing four-year extension with 76ers

Sixers forward Robert Covington is expected to sign a four-year contract extension on Friday.

According to Shams Charania, Covington is in the process of signing a $62 million contract extension that will keep him in Philadelphia for four more years. The 26-year-old out of Tennessee State has become an integral part of the young core for the Sixers. Along with Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, Covington hopes to lead the Sixers out of franchise purgatory.

Four years and $62 million leads to an average annual salary of $15.5 million, not bad for a fifth-year player. Covington’s stats undoubtedly warrant an extension. He is currently third on the team in points per game with 16.8 on 49.7% shooting from the field. Going from an undrafted free agent to a key player on an NBA roster is no coincidence.

This is where a “Trust the Process” reference is necessary. Sam Hinkie may have brought him to Philly, but current General Manager Bryan Colangelo is keeping him there. Covington’s impressive wing play, on both sides of the ball, makes him an invaluable piece on any roster. Especially with the current state of the game, his perimeter defense and 50% three-point shooting are vital for the Sixers.

Covington being locked up for four additional years means he will be under Sixers team control through the 2020-21 season. This comes as a result of the Sixers’ tremendous amount of cap space. With $15.1 million currently available, the Sixers are able to lock up Covington as well as still be in a position to be aggressive in free agency this offseason.

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Thankfully, the Sixers locked up Covington before he hit free agency, saving themselves a lot of money. The Sixers have a young roster that will be good for years to come, and Covington is a big piece of that puzzle. His extension is a huge positive for the future.