The Philadelphia 76ers have had quite the summer. Jaylen Brown. Then LeBron James. It’s going to be quite the ride for them next season. A starting lineup of Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Brown, James, and Joel Embiid is one of the best in the league. But the Sixers still have a backup center problem brewing behind Embiid.
Right now, as the roster currently stands, the 76ers only have two backup centers enlisted: Ariel Hukporti, whom they just signed in free agency, and Adem Bona. Both are fine young prospects, but they aren’t necessarily every-night players. At least, not proven ones. Embiid hasn’t cracked the 40-game mark in any of the last three seasons, so the Sixers need some more depth behind him.
Before the season begins, or at least by the trade deadline, the 76ers need to add some more depth behind Embiid.
76ers need more backup center depth behind Joel Embiid
Bona has only been in the NBA for two seasons, both of which have been with the 76ers. He’s played a ton of games so far, but that doesn’t mean he’s ready to be a full-time backup.
Despite his freakish athleticism, Bona still has trouble with his control. He jumps too easily and can find himself out of position, which gets him into foul trouble at times.
And last year, when the Sixers played him in more games and gave him more minutes, his efficiency went down, his points per game went down, and his rebounds per game remained stagnant.
Then, there’s Hukporti, who was with the New York Knicks before the Sixers snatched him up this summer. Like Bona, he will be entering his third NBA season next year, but he has received far less playing time.
Hukporti has yet to notch 10 minutes per game in either of his first two seasons, yet the Sixers are bringing him in to be a primary backup behind Embiid, who is destined to miss some games.
Bona and Hukporti are fine depth centers. But when the starter is Embiid, they cannot be the only other options at the position. Philly needs to sign someone else, or trade for someone else.
Whoever they get doesn’t have to be amazing. It could be a guy like Nick Richards or even Drew Eubanks. The Sixers, at the very least, just need another body at that position.
Because two inexperienced backups behind one of the most injury-plagued centers in recent NBA memory just aren't enough.
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