The Sixers have suffered a major blow to their center depth, as an MRI confirmed that Ariel Hukporti suffered a torn right Achilles, ending his season, the team announced Tuesday.
Hukporti, 24, suffered the injury less than five minutes into his preseason debut against his former team, the New York Knicks. After the game, head coach Nick Nurse confirmed that the injury Hukporti suffered was to his right Achilles and that he would undergo imaging the following day to confirm the severity.
“I just saw him for a little bit during the game and just gave him a big hug,” Nurse said. “He's been a joy to coach in the short time he's been here.”
Multiple teammates also voiced their support for Hukporti after the game.
“Hukporti is such a great guy,” Jaylen Brown said. “Just such a great communicator... He's been a joy to have. He's been great in the locker room. So you know it sucks to see a guy like that go down.”
“These are my brothers, so it's especially hard for me because I've seen the work that he puts in,” Jabari Walker said. “He just came off an injury and his energy, great locker room guy.”
The injury comes as the Sixers are already short a man, with Adem Bona continuing to recover from a foot sprain he suffered while playing for the Türkiye national team in the FIBA World Cup qualifiers this offseason.
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The Sixers’ center depth is now significantly compromised, and the only center on the team without an injury designation is, of all players, Joel Embiid. Embiid’s current health has been a point of excitement for the team this preseason and is a testament to the work he has put in. But even if he were to remain healthy the entire season, the Sixers would need another player to fill his bench minutes in addition to the scheduled absences he’s expected to have throughout the season.
With Bona and Hukporti injured and last season’s starting power forward Dominick Barlow unavailable for the game, Nick Nurse turned to a combination of Dean Wade and Jabari Walker at center. That move provided an interesting wrinkle, as the Sixers looked impressive overall, running a five-out offense with their undersized centers, but it is not a solution that will last the entire season.
Walker and Wade can fill that role sparingly, but there will be nights when the Sixers need more size than either can provide. While Bona is expected to be reevaluated ahead of the season, there are also questions about whether he can make the leap and become a full-time serviceable backup or starter in Embiid’s absence.
Unfortunately, the Sixers have few options at the moment outside of their current roster.
The team is hard-capped at the first apron, which they currently sit just $1.8 million below, less than the cost of a full-season veteran minimum contract. Because of this, even if the team received a Disabled Player Exception as a result of the injury, they could not use it because it does not create space under the hard cap.
Philadelphia will be able to sign a player to a prorated deal as early as Dec. 4*, but they will have to make the most of their remaining roster until then.
The Sixers have a two-way spot available, but any player willing and eligible to sign a two-way deal would come with limitations. That does not mean they couldn't provide value, but the team's internal options would likely make more sense, with a two-way addition providing depth behind them.
Philadelphia did sign Tacko Fall to an Exhibit 10 deal ahead of training camp, and Nick Nurse confirmed that the 7-foot-6 center could compete for the final two-way spot. However, Fall suffered a left hip strain during camp and is expected to be reevaluated in roughly a week and a half.
*Estimated date based on the prorated veteran minimum for a player with at least two years of experience.
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