There is just one unequivocal truth about recent Philadelphia 76ers’ lottery picks Nerlens Noel, Joel Embiid and Jahlil Okafor: None can play small forward, which is why one man’s misfortune is another man’s opportunity and bad news for Embiid means good news for Robert Covington.

For the Sixers, Embiid’s recent surgery means Covington will get a chance to play the three — or small forward — spot and should get every opportunity to become an NBA star. Embiid will likely miss another season which could turn out to be a blessing in disguise, because, forcing three 7-footers onto the frontline probably was not a workable arrangement in the first place.

The pairing of Okafor and Noel is an intriguing one because Okafor can play the five on the offensive end and Noel the five on the defensive end. While Okafor is working over the other team’s best defender, Noel is the kind of shot-blocker and rim protector at the other end of the floor to be a real force. Splitting the five role is probably the best option and the way head coach Brett Brown will go.

That leaves frontcourt shooting at a premium which is where Covington comes into play. The 6-foot-9 forward is a tremendous shooter and would be a complement to the inside presence of the 7-foot twin towers of Okafor and Noel. He played in 70 games with the Sixers a year ago and averaged 13.5 points per game, all the while shooting a more-than-respectable 37 percent from the three-point line. With the defense focusing on those three, expect newly acquired Nik Stauskas to get knockdown opportunities from the two and point guard T.J. McConnell to find the open man.

It might not be good enough to get the Sixers into the playoffs just yet, but it should be fun to watch.

Mike Gibson is a writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @papreps , “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.