The 76ers went into the offseason and came out looking like a team built to chase a championship. That kind of upgrade can change everything for a franchise, but it also changes the math for players trying to hold onto a role. For Dominick Barlow, that new reality could get uncomfortable fast.
Barlow spent most of last regular season starting as Philadelphia’s main power forward. But as the postseason approached, the coaching staff gradually squeezed him out of the rotation. By playoff time, he was on the bench, and this season could bring a similar problem if he doesn’t carve out a clearer path.
The issue is simple: the 76ers have more usable frontcourt depth now. In addition to LeBron James, the front office added Dean Wade in free agency, bringing in another low-usage, defense-first forward who can fit into different lineup combinations.
Those are the kinds of moves a team makes when it wants to win now. They also make life harder for Barlow.
At the moment, Barlow sits behind James and Wade at power forward, which leaves him searching for another opening. The cleanest route to minutes is probably at center, where the 76ers still don’t have a clear backup behind Joel Embiid.
That’s where Barlow’s case gets interesting. His best asset is his defensive versatility.
He covers ground well, brings energy, and gave the team valuable intangibles last season. But that alone may not be enough.
To stay on the floor consistently, he has to rebound better and become more dangerous offensively.
Barlow said this summer that he has been working on his three-point shot, and that weakness was a major reason he slipped out of favor late last season. If that shot starts to fall, it would go a long way toward giving him a real place in the regular rotation.
For now, the margin is thin. The 76ers have too many secure options to sit around and wait, so Barlow’s path back depends on showing clear improvement in the areas that held him back before. If he doesn’t, even a steady rotation spot could be tough to keep.
In Other News...
Tatum Just Added More Fuel To Sixers Celtics Tension
Jayson Tatum took a surprisingly warm tone toward Jaylen Brown during an appearance on The Dan Patrick Show, even with the Celtics having traded Tatum to the Philadelphia 76ers. Brown had already said he had not spoken to Tatum since the move, so the exchange only adds another layer to a situation that has quickly become one of the leagues more closely watched storylines.
For the Sixers, the trade has already sharpened the edge of the Boston matchup, and the timing only makes the next stretch more interesting. Media days and preseason games are coming, and every public comment from here on out figures to get sifted for meaning as the two sides keep circling each other. [Read more 🡒]
Sixers May Not Get The Brunson Break Fans Were Hoping For
Jalen Brunsons recovery appears to be moving in the direction the Knicks wanted, and that is not exactly the news Sixers fans were waiting for. The point guard is reportedly 80 to 85 percent recovered from wrist surgery and is expected to enter Knicks training camp without limitations, a sign that he should be close to his usual workload by the time the season gets going.
For Philadelphia, the timing matters because the two teams are set to see each other three times, including a preseason matchup, before the end of October. Brunson has already been a tough matchup for the Sixers in the playoffs, and he is anticipated to be in the lineup for the season opener on October 20 unless something changes, which means any hoped-for early-season break may be slipping away. [Read more 🡒]
LeBron Could Finally Get The 76ers Role Lakers Never Could Give Him
LeBron James is reportedly headed to Philadelphia, and the fit looks different from the one he had with the Lakers. With the 76ers, he would join a roster that already has multiple scoring options, which could let him spend more time as a table-setter and less time carrying the offense possession after possession.
For Philadelphia, that kind of role shift could matter as much as the name on the back of the jersey. James has spent years balancing scoring with creation, but this setup could give him a chance to manage his workload more carefully while still steering an offense built to get plenty of buckets from elsewhere. The bigger question now is how quickly that adjustment can take hold, and how much it changes the way the 76ers use him. [Read more 🡒]