NBA Trade Deadline 2020: 5 teams who should be chasing Robert Covington

DALLAS, TX - DECEMBER 4: Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks hugs Robert Covington #33 of the Minnesota Timberwolves after the game on December 04, 2019 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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PHILADELPHIA, PA – OCTOBER 30: Robert Covington #33 of the Minnesota Timberwolves handles the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers on October 30, 2019 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) /

4. Philadelphia 76ers

The Philadelphia 76ers find themselves in a similar boat to the Lakers with regard to a potential Covington reunion.

Covington spent four-plus seasons in Philadelphia, during which time he blossomed from an undrafted “patsy” to a well-compensated starter. The Sixers used him as the centerpiece in their trade for Jimmy Butler in November 2018, a move which they perhaps have since come to regret.

Covington would give the shooting-starved Sixers a much-needed floor-spacer, although he wouldn’t address their need for an on-ball creator. A whopping 94.6 percent of his 3-point attempts during his Philly tenure were assisted, and nearly 70 percent of his career 2-point field goals have been as well.

Much like with the Lakers, the question comes down to compensation.

Outside of their starting five, the Sixers don’t have a player earning more than roughly $4.8 million (Mike Scott). Second-year wing Zhaire Smith ($3.1 million) might be of interest if the Timberwolves plan to pivot into a youth movement, although he’s drawn mixed reviews in the G League this season.

The Sixers traded their 2020 first-round pick to the Clippers for Tobias Harris last February, although they own a top-20-protected 2020 first-rounder from the Oklahoma City Thunder (which will otherwise convey as 2022 and 2023 second-rounders). They also have a bevy of future second-round picks from other teams, including Atlanta and New York’s this season.

If the Sixers aren’t willing to break up their starting five, they’d likely have to give up both Scott and Smith for salary-matching purposes and throw in draft compensation to land Covington. The Timberwolves can likely receive more from another team, though.

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