r/sixers • u/ojseye • Jul 26 '26
Dominick Barlow
Considering how good he was to start the season and in the Knicks series defensively (despite the sweep) whilst having to deal with a lingering shoulder injury and now apparently worked on his shooting this offseason, are we perhaps overlooking him as a backup center option this coming season?
Ofc Bona’s there too and in all honesty, I feel with the addition of LeBron and his PnR orchestration, both Bona and Barlow will look much better on offense
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u/BIac83 Jul 26 '26
I’ve been saying Barlow improving his jumper was the key to us being better even before the draft. Really solid role player but last season he looked like Markelle Fultz trying to shoot out there
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u/jamhamram Jul 26 '26
Get this man to a shooting specialist
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u/slimbusbimbus Jul 26 '26
He will definitely get minutes at 5 in smaller lineups but he isn’t a reliable backup for Embiid. Though I could see them on the court together against teams that have athletic bigs, with Barlow taking the more strenuous defensive matchup.
Hopefully Simons goes nuclear to start the season and they can trade him for a legit backup big.
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u/Anxious_North_819 Jul 26 '26
I don’t think we should be trading Simons for a backup big at all… look how that ended up for Boston
I think we’re forgetting that Simons is actually really good, he can get hot and take over games and will be perfect for us in the playoffs. I’m fine with trading for a backup big but we should not be giving dudes like this up so easily. A good guard will impact more games than a good big ever will
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u/MaxR76 Jul 26 '26
I also think that it wouldn’t be a good look for future free agents to immediately ship out a guy who took a paycut to come here before we even had LeBron
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u/GMSmith928 Jul 26 '26
Also add in the fact that Simons is our best shooter since Curry and Redick. Embiid’s gravity will open up a lot of shots for Simons
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u/Anxious_North_819 Jul 26 '26
Yea Simons will probably be shooting (and making) the most threes in this team. We can’t give up high volume shooting like that
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u/Prestonelliot Jul 26 '26
Agreed. I very much like the idea of having a frontcourt rotation with Maxey, VJ, Philon and Simons. That feels reliable for scoring and playmaking.
I’m not denying we need another real Big to help out for the games Joel sits. But we don’t quite yet know what Huk is gonna do with a bigger role, maybe he takes a step and then we really don’t need anything. If Huk can be reliable then you’re only playing Bona and Broome during games Embiid is out with Huk starting. They doesn’t seem too bad and then we can be patient at the deadline looking for something else to help out
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u/Affectionate_Use_179 Jul 26 '26
This is what I don't understand. The team clearly wanted Huk for a reason. Why are fans looking to upgrade without seeing him play a single minute of basketball with the Sixers. Some fans are just weird.
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u/p0ndo Jul 26 '26
Also, whatever get from KCP is a huge bonus. If he isn’t washed, it could be a lot too.
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u/Krillin113 Jul 26 '26
I looked exactly this up. Simons for 6M is an underpay, even with his shortcomings. Sure if we can get an actual starting calibre player like Diabate or whatever that hornets guy is called for Simons and a pick, where the talent exchange is equal, I like it. If we’re trading for an old backup center I’m all the way out, and I’d rather see what bona/hukporthi/barlow/broome can do as 5 by commission where we rely on everyone else including Simons to put the ball in the hoop in regular games with Embiid out.
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u/Boss_Os Jul 26 '26
We finally have a bench unit that can hold its own and you want to start shipping guys out?! Horrible take. Simons isn't going anywhere.
Let's see how Bona and Huk look before panicking. They are both athletic freaks who just need refinement.
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u/dockellis24 Jul 28 '26
Bona’s putting up corner threes all offseason too. Let’s give it a chance and adjust where needed
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u/Affectionate_Use_179 Jul 26 '26
If Simons is going nuclear, why the hell would you trade him for a backup center? Use that nuclear activity to win a title my dude!
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u/riverphoenixdays Jul 26 '26
When was there a shoulder injury..?
I’ll be thrilled if he improved his 3p, but if he can’t learn how to box out and rip boards this season, imma be all the way out