Covington found out about trade to T-Wolves on social media
Robert Covington was in the midst of another strong campaign for the Philadelphia 76ers before finding out online that he had to pack his bags and head to Minneapolis.
"I found out on social media," Covington said of the November trade, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer's Sarah Todd. "It was like five minutes before the team meeting, then (head coach) Brett (Brown) called me and EB (general manager Elton Brand) called me, but I already knew. By then it was already out there. That's how I found out."
Covington was dealt to the Minnesota Timberwolves along with Dario Saric, Jerryd Bayless, and a second-round pick in exchange for All-Star forward Jimmy Butler and Justin Patton.
The trade came nearly a year after Covington inked a four-year, $62-million extension with the Sixers and a few months after he was named to the NBA's All-Defensive first team.
He'd suffered through three embarrassing years (with 56 combined victories) in Philadelphia before becoming a 3-and-D specialist for a 52-win team in 2017-18. He said he was surprised by Brown's manner in the phone call about the trade.
"It was really clear-cut and dry," Covington stated. "As far as having that respect level, and for how much we'd been through, I would have thought it had to be completely different, but it wasn't. Considering how much time relationship-wise and everything that went down. ... It was weird."
Covington and the Timberwolves visit the 76ers on Jan. 15 - his first return to Wells Fargo Center since the trade.
The 28-year-old is averaging 14.5 points and 5.7 boards in 22 appearances for Minnesota.