Ariel Hukporti has agreed to a one-year deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, worth just more than the minimum ($3.4 million). The now former New York Knick is just 24 years old and could bring an intriguing dynamic to the backup center position.

Who Is Ariel Hukporti?

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Oct 24, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks center Ariel Hukporti (55) warms up before the game against the Boston Celtics at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Hukporti will be entering his third NBA season next year with the 76ers. He spent the previous two seasons with the Knicks, winning the NBA championship last season. He has not been given the opportunity to play many minutes as he was behind Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson.

Hukporti has a very high motor, but that can sometimes hurt him when it comes to fouls. He is very similar to the current Sixers backup center, Adem Bona. Hukporti rebounds a bit better than Bona, but other than that, they’re eerily close to the same player. This creates the question: Who will be the backup center? Bona? Hukporti? Or someone else…

Will Hukporti Be The Backup Center?

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Apr 24, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Adem Bona (30) reacts after a basket against the Boston Celtics during the second half at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

The 76ers will have a tough path to finding a reliable center to play when Joel Embiid is injured. Hukporti could be a great third-string center, but trusting him to play big minutes would be difficult. The signing may show more about what the front office thinks of Bona than anything else.

Bona could be on the way out of Philadelphia after this news, being part of a minor trade to acquire the Sixers true backup center. There are some fun options here, including New Orleans Pelicans’ Yves Missi.

Can Philadelphia Still Sign Other Free Agents?

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Apr 8, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Marvin Bagley III (35) against the Phoenix Suns at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Short answer: Yes, the 76ers still have the flexibility to sign free agents. This move will likely dig into the full MLE, along with the Dean Wade signing, which could lower them down to $3 million on the exception. If they don’t bring back Kelly Oubre, they will also have access to the $5 million bi-annual exception.

Some players Philadelphia could target with the remaining money:

  • Marvin Bagley Jr.
  • Matisse Thybulle
  • De’Anthony Melton

End Of My Ariel Hukporti Philadelphia 76ers Rant

Hukporti is a great signing if he isn’t going to be trusted as the backup center. He’s never been put in the situation where he needs to play heavy minutes in big games, something that will certainly happen with Embiid’s injuries. Trading Bona and acquiring another backup center, whether it’s Bagley or Missi, is the way to go.