TPE Targets—Part 2, The Forgotten Edge of Robert Covington

Who among us hasn’t agonized over their computer those late nights? Stomach tied in knots, sweat beading down from the temple? Fretting for hours, tinkering with the exact minutia of…

…drum roll, please…

….I’ll know if you’re not doing it…

…the trade machine!

There’s something so beautiful—so pure—about choosing to stay up for two days straight… to construct the perfect trade. We’ve all been there, right?

…right…?

Can we all agree it’s an incredible tool, at the very least? Excellent.

As we continue focusing on players for the Grizzlies to target with their TPE, do me a favor. Pull up the trade machine.

Now, bring up the Clipper’s roster.

Scan it.

Knowing the criteria—defensive additive, affordable role guy— is someone jumping out? To be honest, I can’t believe I forgot about this dude.

Picture Robert Covington on this Memphis roster.

He’s the crux of “Part 2— RoCo.” As such, let’s delve deeper into the potential implication of adding Covington to this Grizzlies team.

“Come playoff time, [that] rotation is cut down to eight or nine guys, and you have to rely on those guys in high-pressure situations…”

Look, those are Desmond Bane’s words not mine. Are you going to argue with him? Yeah, be my guest… but I sure wouldn’t. It helps that he’s right, so if we could keep any arguments shelved that would be super dope.

If you take Des’s words and have those in the back of your mind, give the eight or nine guys above a gander. That’s a pretty solid rotation to have at your disposal in high-pressure situations if you ask me.

Should they reach a deal with LA—what is Memphis getting with Robert Covington? What is it that he brings to the table? Well, if we’re being honest… he brings to the table the exact thing(s) this squad may need.

This is Robert Covington's ninth NBA season and I don't think I've ever seen him do this. pic.twitter.com/X0CYTUYjsH

— John Hollinger (@johnhollinger) February 16, 2022

‘RoCo’ would bring with him ten years of NBA experience for starters. Tossed in with the 30 playoff games he’s got under his belt, and you’ve got a certain level of… pedigree that demands attention.

Pedigree that he continues to back up with his level of play. Start with his defense. Since entering the league, his block % has dipped below 60% only once—his rookie year.

And not only that but in seven of Covington’s stops along the way, his BLK% remained above 90%. Sure, that’s good, but not quite as good as his steal %—that’s nothing short of elite.

Since 2013, his STL % has never fallen below 86% and in six of those seasons, it stayed above 95%. Try and tell me that’s not elite.

It doesn’t stop with his defense, as his offensive game isn’t half bad, either. ‘RoCo” has shooting splits of 40.8/36.2/81.1 for his career. The back half of last season suggests he’s capable of much more, though.

Post the 2021/2022 trade deadline—over the course of the season’s final 23 games… Covington shot the ball like an absolute madman. He closed that season with splits of 50.0/45.0/84.8.

Go on, get your double take in. That 45.0% isn’t elite alone; it reminds me of a specific former teammate of his on the current roster—Luke Kennard. Which, while we’re on the subject, is familiarity worth exploring.

Covington’s first season with the Clippers happened to coincide with Kennard’s second. That year, ‘Nardo’ and ‘RoCo’ were 4th in net rating (13.8) out of all 2-man lineup combos and 1st among 3-man lineups (22.0). That’s with all lineups deployed in at least 20 games by Tye Lue.

For two non-starters, that’s pretty damn good… And Memphis would be wise to use that to their advantage, unlike Coach Lue, who instead makes a habit out of burying quality rotation guys at the end of the bench.

Which, if I’m honest, still astounds me. It’s not like these were two Joe-Schmoes either—both Luke and Rob—they’re hoopers. Legitimate hoopers. I’m not complaining. One man’s mistake is another man’s title piece, right?

If I’m Taylor Jenkins, and I’ve got a three-man bench mob consisting of Kennard, Covington, and, say, Brandon Clarke? That’s a deadly three-headed monster—like the Melt/’Slow Mo’/BC combos of old. If those are your reserves in the playoffs, your bench will be set.

The edge Covington can give the Grizzlies isn’t limited to the subs, though. Sure, your reserve minutes will be Gucci, but imagine what happens if ‘RoCo’ is the first guy off the bench. Not in relief of Jaren… but in relief of who TJ gives the nod at the 3.

Robert Covington drives in for 2!

Watch the Nashville Pro-Am in the NBA App: https://t.co/NdsTvHwzaN pic.twitter.com/QWsnantMjA

— NBA (@NBA) July 1, 2023

That’s Covington, Trip, and Steven Adams all out there at the same time. That’s three dudes who are tall as hell and tougher than beef jerky left in the van too long. You’re trying to get through that? It ain’t happening, folks.

Let me preface this next point with the fact that I saw Jurassic Park in 3D this past weekend, so I may or may not have dinosaurs on my mind… but I’m going to try to simplify it: RAPTOR.

I know, I know… take it with a grain of salt. If you get technical with RAPTOR, you’ll wind up with John Konchar as the fourth-best guy on this team.

Look, regardless of what you think about the stat, it’s a good way to quantify a player’s value to a team overall. It stands for Robust Algorithm (using) Player Tracking (and) On/Off Ratings… or RAPTOR. Rawr.

It’s used to calculate a player’s WAR—Wins Above Replacement level. That’s using a replacement level of -2.75 points per 100 possessions. That number is derived from evaluating the historical performance of players on 2-Ways. The NBA’s literal replacement players. Like I said, simple. Rawr.

The last time Covington qualified (21′-22′ season), his WAR was 4.6. That was good enough for first on the Clippers roster. First. That number would also translate to fourth on the Grizzlies last season behind only Ja, Jaren, and Des. Suffice it to say… he brings a lot to the table. Rawr.

I’m beating a dead horse at this point… but it bears reiterating—Memphis is close. They are close to a championship. They should follow the Nugget’s blueprint in their title pursuits.

After falling short, Denver went and got one piece to win its championship (Bruce Brown). It’s time for Memphis to do the same.

The Grizzlies have tried and tried to find that prototypical 3-and-D hooper on the wing. For years, they’ve taken several bites of the apple. Will one of the young guys pan out? Sure, it is a possibility.

But we might need a guy who’s a finished product right now, ready to be thrust into the throes of a playoff rotation—someone who can play and guard three or four positions.

In that, Robert ‘RoCo’ Covington may be the diamond in the rough.

What a night for Robert Covington.. he led the @LAClippers offense to a franchise-record 153 points while setting his career-high in points & 3PM! #ClipperNation

🔥 43 PTS (career high)
🔥 8 REB
🔥 2 STL
🔥 3 BLK
🔥 11 3PM (career high & franchise record) pic.twitter.com/yiez0rUKL9

— NBA (@NBA) April 2, 2022