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The Philadelphia 76ers do not need every offseason decision to be complicated. Dominick Barlow’s team option should be one of the easier calls.
According to PhillyVoice, Barlow has a $3.415 million team option for the 2026-27 season, giving the Sixers a low-cost path to retain one of their more useful young frontcourt pieces. For a team with expensive stars, limited flexibility, and a roster that still needs reliable role players, Barlow's deal is a blessing.
Barlow is not a perfect player. He is not a high-volume shooter, and he does not stretch defenses in the way modern frontcourt players are often expected to. If the Sixers decide they need more spacing around Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George, they could look elsewhere for a big man or forward who forces defenses to respect him on the perimeter.
But that is the argument against Barlow. The argument for keeping him is stronger.
Barlow gives Philadelphia energy, size, and activity. Those traits can sound ordinary, but they become valuable when attached to a player who understands his role. He does not need touches to impact a game.
He runs the floor, crashes the glass, finishes around the rim, and keeps possessions alive. That kind of player can help a bench unit survive rough stretches and give a team more margin for error.
His rebounding is one of the clearest reasons the Sixers should want him back. Barlow averaged 4.8 rebounds in 23.8 minutes per game last season, solid production for a player still carving out his role.
More importantly, his activity on the offensive glass gave Philadelphia extra chances, something the team has not always had from its supporting cast. His 26-point, 16-rebound performance against the Clippers, including 10 offensive boards, was the best example of what his motor can do when everything is clicking.
That game was not just a random hot night. It showed the kind of value Barlow can provide when he plays with force. He can punish smaller defenders near the basket, finish dump-offs, make himself available in the dunker spot, and create points through effort rather than designed offense. The Sixers have enough players who need the ball. Barlow can help because he does not.
That makes him a clean fit in certain lineups. Next to Embiid, he can work as an active cutter and rebounder. Next to second-unit guards, he can give the offense a vertical target. He is not going to bend defenses with shooting, but he can still pressure them by sprinting into space and being a play finisher.
The question is whether Philadelphia wants that skill set enough to live with the limitations.
If the Sixers prioritize shooting above everything else, Barlow’s case becomes less secure. His lack of floor spacing could shrink some lineups, especially in playoff settings. But at his salary, age, and production level, the safer play is keeping him. Young frontcourt players who rebound, hustle, and finish efficiently are worth developing, especially when they already have experience in the team’s system.
For the Sixers, what Barlow does well should outweigh his limitations.
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Head over to the 76ersRoundtable page and hit the "Join" button under the featured story... it's completely FREE! You'll have the opportunity to engage with other 76ers fans who live and breathe the team, share your thoughts on the organization, and more. If you're asked to sign up or download the Roundtable app... that's free too.
Wes Dixon is a contributing writer to 76ersRoundtable. He can be reached at [email protected].
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According to PhillyVoice, Barlow has a $3.415 million team option for the 2026-27 season, giving the Sixers a low-cost path to retain one of their more useful young frontcourt pieces. For a team with expensive stars, limited flexibility, and a roster that still needs reliable role players, Barlow's deal is a blessing.
Barlow is not a perfect player. He is not a high-volume shooter, and he does not stretch defenses in the way modern frontcourt players are often expected to. If the Sixers decide they need more spacing around Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George, they could look elsewhere for a big man or forward who forces defenses to respect him on the perimeter.
But that is the argument against Barlow. The argument for keeping him is stronger.
Barlow gives Philadelphia energy, size, and activity. Those traits can sound ordinary, but they become valuable when attached to a player who understands his role. He does not need touches to impact a game.
He runs the floor, crashes the glass, finishes around the rim, and keeps possessions alive. That kind of player can help a bench unit survive rough stretches and give a team more margin for error.
His rebounding is one of the clearest reasons the Sixers should want him back. Barlow averaged 4.8 rebounds in 23.8 minutes per game last season, solid production for a player still carving out his role.
More importantly, his activity on the offensive glass gave Philadelphia extra chances, something the team has not always had from its supporting cast. His 26-point, 16-rebound performance against the Clippers, including 10 offensive boards, was the best example of what his motor can do when everything is clicking.
That game was not just a random hot night. It showed the kind of value Barlow can provide when he plays with force. He can punish smaller defenders near the basket, finish dump-offs, make himself available in the dunker spot, and create points through effort rather than designed offense. The Sixers have enough players who need the ball. Barlow can help because he does not.
That makes him a clean fit in certain lineups. Next to Embiid, he can work as an active cutter and rebounder. Next to second-unit guards, he can give the offense a vertical target. He is not going to bend defenses with shooting, but he can still pressure them by sprinting into space and being a play finisher.
The question is whether Philadelphia wants that skill set enough to live with the limitations.
If the Sixers prioritize shooting above everything else, Barlow’s case becomes less secure. His lack of floor spacing could shrink some lineups, especially in playoff settings. But at his salary, age, and production level, the safer play is keeping him. Young frontcourt players who rebound, hustle, and finish efficiently are worth developing, especially when they already have experience in the team’s system.
For the Sixers, what Barlow does well should outweigh his limitations.
Join The 76ersRoundtable
Head over to the 76ersRoundtable page and hit the "Join" button under the featured story... it's completely FREE! You'll have the opportunity to engage with other 76ers fans who live and breathe the team, share your thoughts on the organization, and more. If you're asked to sign up or download the Roundtable app... that's free too.
Wes Dixon is a contributing writer to 76ersRoundtable. He can be reached at [email protected].
Continue reading...
