The Minnesota Timberwolves traded big man Dario Saric to the Phoenix Suns as part of a package to move up to the sixth overall pick in the NBA Draft on Thursday night, and as a result, Robert Covington is expected to see some more time at power forward next season.
Gersson Rosas addressing the media after the reported trade said Robert Covington is a player who has his most success at the 4.
Without Saric, it appears Covington will be taking on an increased role at the 4.
— Dane Moore (@DaneMooreNBA) June 21, 2019
Covington has been a small forward for the vast majority of his career and has long been considered one of the league's better perimeter defenders, so this would certainly be a big change for the veteran.
The 28-year-old began the 2018-19 campaign with the Philadelphia 76ers but was traded to the Timberwolves in November as part of a deal that sent Jimmy Butler to the 76ers.
However, Covington's season did not last long, as he played in just 35 games due to an ankle injury. During that time, he averaged 13.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.1 steals and 1.3 blocks over 34.4 minutes per game while shooting 43.1 percent from the floor, 37.8 percent from three-point range and 76.4 percent from the free-throw line.
Covington, who played his collegiate basketball at Tennessee State, went undrafted but eventually saw his first NBA action with the Houston Rockets during the 2013-14 campaign.
He spent just that one year with the Rockets before landing with Philadelphia the following season, where he appeared in 70 contests and registered 13.5 points, 4.5 boards and 1.4 steals across 27.9 minutes a night while making 39.6 percent of his field-goal attempts, 37.4 percent of his long-distance tries and 82 percent of his foul shots.
Covington would go on to post similar numbers throughout the remainder of his tenure in Philly.
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