With the trade deadline quickly approaching, Minnesota Timberwolves forward Robert Covington stands out as one of the more intriguing trade pieces in the entire NBA. Covington’s allure as a 3-and-D specialist will make him one of the most sought after players in the league over the next few weeks and a handful of contenders are already showing interest in the 29-year-old’s services.
According to The Athletic’s John Krawcyzknsi and Shams Charania, the trade market for Covington is ‘heating up’ with the Philadelphia 76ers, Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks leading the sweepstakes.
Rival teams also say the market for forward Robert Covington has been heating up over recent days. Covington has become a coveted player, with his defensive prowess and outside shooting an ideal fit for most teams in the playoff hunt. Houston, Dallas and Philadelphia are among the teams who have expressed interest in Covington, but Minnesota is expected to drive a hard bargain, league sources said.
Of course, it’s worth noting that the Wolves won’t just give up Covington for cheap, in fact, they’ll likely expect a decent haul in return. Though Covington’s stats and minutes are down slightly compared to seasons past, the versatile wing is still very much in his prime and could make a huge impact for a contending team down the stretch.
Covington already played over four seasons for the 76ers so the familiarity element for Philadelphia’s front office could serve as a catalyst in a potential deal. Covington filled in as Philly’s starter at the small forward position for nearly half a decade and he would be a huge boost for one of the Eastern Conference’s top teams. If sent back to the Sixers, Covington would likely step in as a day one starter in the other forward position alongside Tobias Harris.
There’s also some history with the Houston Rockets, as they were the team he played his first NBA minutes with, though it was only for seven games back in 2013. The Rockets are in desperate need of a starting-caliber three and bringing in someone that’s defensive-minded and can knock down triples could take them to a whole new level. The same goes for the surprisingly impressive Dallas Mavericks who could use a wing scorer alongside Tim Hardaway Jr. to complement Luka Doncic and his playmaking.
Regardless of whether he’s moved or not, these won’t be the only teams who gauge Covington’s availability over the coming weeks. Expect Covington to be one of the more prominent names to monitor as the NBA’s Feb. 6 trade deadline approaches.
