NBA | Sixers in hot pursuit of Golden State role player seems odd

by Jack Kerwin  |  [email protected]

It’s not exactly inspiring. It’s more along the lines of alarming.

For all the good vibes emanating out of South Philly courtesy of the 76ers, with their winning the NBA lottery, drafting Ben Simmons and projecting, finally, an image of moving forward as an organization, the idea, the concept, the reality that they have targeted Harrison Barnes of the Golden State Warriors as THE top priority in free agency kinda takes a little air out of the emotional balloon.

Barnes switching coasts and slipping on the Sixers’ red, white and blue isn’t an awful thought, it’s just more like … hmmm, an afterthought. Almost a no thought, really – along the lines of giving credence to the never-ending tributes to Sam Hinkie’s Lewis and Clark-like “genius.”

Yo, he’s a nice player, a solid player. But he’s a role player.

He’s not a prime-timer. He’s certainly not a max-contract player – which is exactly what he’d have to be if Philly GM Brian Colangelo and Co. hope to land him.

Frankly, what Barnes happens to be is a mid-20s small forward-power forward ’tweener who can shoot a little bit from distance, who can get you a few boards and, basically, fill in some gaps that the stars on a team don’t completely cover.

That guy already exists on the team in town. Goes by the name of Robert Covington.

OK, yeah, the fourth-year pro doesn’t have the same kind of pedigree. He wasn’t a major recruit coming out of high school like Barnes. He didn’t go to a college basketball powerhouse like Barnes, who did a two-year stint at North Carolina before jumping to the NBA in 2012 while Covington toiled his wares for four years at Tennessee State before going undrafted and having to earn his way to the show in 2013 with summertime and developmental league efforts.

He didn’t play for an elite squad at this level, either, getting national exposure, albeit in secondary fashion, through long playoff runs.

No, Covington, instead, had a cup of coffee with Houston three years ago before playing with the dogmeat Sixers outfits of 2014 and ’15 … and he performed, arguably, better than Barnes.

In fewer minutes per game, he averaged more points (12.6 to 10.1), rebounds (5.1 to 4.6), steals (1.4 to .7) and blocked shots (.5 to .2). Barnes has been a bit better from the floor and Covington from the foul line, and they’re a wash on assists.

Pick your poison as to which situation was harder to stand out – Barnes having to lurk in the shadows of Steph Curry and Klay Thompson or Covington having to deal with the ever-revolving door of disasters and high-profile draft picks being force-fed the ball.

Thing is, this getting caught up in the moment stuff, or overrating talent because of what his team does (hello, Byron Maxwell), can affect any personnel staff in professional sports at any time. It afflicts fan bases all the time. Either way, it gets old.

Funny, the same people promoting Barnes as a worthwhile investment now make up a good portion of those who went after Andre Iguodala with verbal pitchforks for being their Frankenstein once he accepted a max deal what seems a lifetime ago.

Following a season in which he averaged 19.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 2.1 steals and .6 blocks – aside from rebounds, all numbers Barnes has never even come close to achieving in a single season – and was regarded as one of the NBA’s top defenders.

Let those facts sink in for a bit …

Now, are you inspired at the prospect of the Sixers signing Barnes as if he were a superstar, or alarmed that the Sixers are even considering it?

Gee, wonder what Hinkie would thinkie …

Funny, the same people promoting Barnes as a worthwhile investment now make up a good portion of those who went after Andre Iguodala with verbal pitchforks for being their Frankenstein once he accepted a max deal what seems a lifetime ago. Following a season in which he averaged 19.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 2.1 steals and .6 blocks – aside from rebounds, all numbers Barnes has never even come close to achieving in a single season – and was regarded as one of the NBA’s top defenders. Let those facts sink in for a bit … Now, are you inspired at the prospect of the Sixers signing Barnes as if he were a superstar, or alarmed that the Sixers are even considering it?