Robert Covington has sent a message to the city of Philadelphia and the 76ers following his trade from the side this week.

The 27-year-old small forward was moved to Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Jimmy Butler and Justin Patton, with Dario Saric and Jerryd Bayless joining him as well.

One of the best undrafted players currently in the NBA, Covington was a vital part of the set-up in Philly, having joined the team four years ago after being waived by the Houston Rockets.

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Following his trade to Minnesota, the player took to Instagram to thank the city, as well as the organization for placing their faith in him.

"Just want to thank the city of Philadelphia and the 76ers organization for allowing me to grow as a player here over the past 4 years," he wrote.

"Thru the ups and downs I learned a lot here and y’all always had our back. It’s been a incredible journey and I definitely wouldn’t change it for the world. I built friendships and bonds that will last a lifetime. Now a new journey awaits and I’m thankful for this opportunity. Until next time Philly!!!"

A dependable scorer, Covington is likely to have a huge impact on the T-Wolves, who could see things improve despite losing their best player. The forward shot 39 percent from beyond the arc for Philly ahead of his move and is 36 percent from three-point land over the course of his NBA career.

His defence, however, is what could set him apart. Covington made it to the league's All-Defensive First Team last season to become the first Sixers player to be named to the prestigious list since Dikembe Mutombo in 2001.

What This Means

Covington led the NBA in deflections last season with 312 and had the best defensive rating for forwards who logged at least 30 minutes per contest. He was also ninth in steals per game with 1.7 and stole the ball 137 times, the figure for the sixth most in the league.

A fan favorite in Philly, Covington will surely be missed by the 76ers support. But it appears that the Timberwolves could get a hefty contribution out of him. There's also the upside of having him contracted for three more seasons when this one is done.

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