The 76ers have opened the season looking every bit like a team sitting on top of the East, but that 9-2 start hasn’t erased the questions lurking behind the numbers. One of the biggest is the backup big man spot, and Dominick Barlow was supposed to help solve it. Instead, he still hasn’t played a minute.
Barlow has been out since the preseason with a back injury, and that absence has carried into the regular season. Philadelphia needs more help behind Joel Embiid, and the team still seems interested in finding out what Barlow can provide. But if he can’t get on the floor soon, his place on the roster could start to slip.
That’s a sharp turn for a player who looked like a real find last season. Barlow broke through for the 76ers and played well enough to outgrow his two-way deal, which earned him a standard NBA contract in the middle of the year. Now he’s on an expiring contract, and this was always going to be a crucial season for him.
The problem is that the 76ers may not have the luxury of waiting around much longer. Even though they still need another center, Barlow’s path back is getting tougher. Jabari Walker has played better, and Dean Wade has joined the mix, giving Philadelphia two options who offer similar defensive versatility while fitting more cleanly on offense because they can stretch the floor.
That leaves Barlow in a tricky spot. He’s an undersized big man and a natural power forward, which means the front office may still look elsewhere for center depth. If that happens, he could wind up as one of the first players moved out when the roster needs to be trimmed, whether through a trade or a waiver.
Philadelphia got one useful season out of Barlow. This year, though, the clock is ticking, and the team may not be willing to keep waiting for him to get healthy and reclaim his place.
In Other News...
Sixers Leave Chicago With A Bigger Concern Than The Win
The Sixers left Chicago with another win in hand, but the bigger takeaway from a 127-121 finish was how much they had to lean on a short-handed rotation to get there. Philadelphia closed out a 2-1 road trip and moved to 9-2, with Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey and LeBron James all topping 20 points while Joel Embiid chipped in 18 points and 10 rebounds.
Even with the result secured, the way the game unfolded offered a reminder of how thin the margin can be when injuries start piling up. Philadelphia had to survive a late Bulls push in the final minutes, and the fact that the Sixers needed so much from their top names just to hold on may matter more than the standings column for now. [Read more 🡒]
Two Former 76ers Camp Hopefuls Just Made Phillys Two-Way Call Look Tough
The Delaware Blue Coats opened their season with an eye-catching 147-point outburst against the Capital City Go-Go, and the biggest reason was a pair of familiar names to anyone who followed 76ers training camp. Jameer Nelson Jr. poured in a game-high 39 points while also filling the box score with assists, rebounds and steals, and Saint Thomas matched him with 39 points of his own.
Thomas added 10 rebounds for a double-double, giving the Blue Coats a front-line presence to go with the scoring barrage. For the 76ers, it was a reminder that the two-way competition in camp was not an easy call, because both players showed the kind of production that can make a team look twice at what it passed on. [Read more 🡒]
Bulls Suddenly Face Two Rotation Questions Against Philly
Chicago is heading into its matchup with Philadelphia with its frontcourt and wing depth still in flux, even as help is on the way. Nic Claxton is expected to make his Bulls debut after missing time with a hamstring injury, though he will be on a minutes restriction, while Jalen Smith is listed as probable despite dealing with a finger issue.
The Bulls also have a pair of rotation spots hanging in the balance, with Norman Powell questionable because of a shoulder injury and Tobe Awaka questionable with an MCL issue. Zach Collins and Dailyn Swain have already been ruled out, leaving Chicago to sort through a patchwork lineup before facing a 76ers team that can punish any thin bench in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]