Nobody should take preseason games as gospel, but the Philadelphia 76ers can't afford to ignore their center depth issues. With the regular season still days away, the franchise has already been shown a bleak destiny if they fail to add another big to its roster. Ariel Hukporti is a long-term casualty for the Sixers, and Adem Bona is yet to return to action; without these backup options, Nick Nurse is clutching at straws.
Having a star-studded roster is the bare minimum for a championship-caliber team. Quality depth across all five positions is crucial, and Philadelphia simply doesn't have this. Before his injury, Hukporti showed glimpses of the impressive understudy he could become. If he can mature this year, Adem Bona will be a major asset on both sides of the ball, but due to his own fitness issues, he is yet to play a minute during the Sixers' preseason fixtures.
Unless Lady Luck has other ideas, Joel Embiid should be healthy as the regular season begins, but little behind him is worth getting excited about. In recent years, the 76ers have been highly successful at giving 'failed' prospects a two-way contract lifeline and altering their career trajectory. Let's hope they can do that again.
76ers need to find a diamond in the rough
This isn't a prediction; this is a reality. If the Philadelphia 76ers can't find a capable understudy for Joel Embiid, they can kiss goodbye to their championship hopes. Injuries to Hukporti, Bona, Tacko Fall, and Dominick Barlow should already have the Sixers' front office working overtime to resolve this worrying issue.
However, with a limited salary cap remaining, the organization's best option will be to utilize their final two-way spot with a player on the cusp of leaving the NBA entirely. Barlow and Jabari Walker proved that this can be an excellent solution when finances are restricted. Both players had their two-way contracts converted into standard deals following a string of impressive performances during the 2025-26 season.
This spot may already be reserved for Tacko Fall, with the hope that the 7-foot-6 center will maintain a reasonable level of health throughout the schedule. Nevertheless, with just 30 NBA games to his name and four years away from the league, Fall is a gigantic gamble given what is at stake for the 76ers this year.
Frankly, there will never be a perfect solution to replacing Joel Embiid in the lineup; what he brings to a team is far too significant. Yet, Philadelphia has been foolish in leaving itself so light at center. The regular season hasn't even begun, and the Sixers are already being consumed by injuries in this area.
It feels criminal to criticize the job Mike Gansey has done since he took over as the 76ers' president of basketball operations, but this is a gaping flaw in the team's roster. Without addressing this particular issue, it's hard to believe Philadelphia has enough to clinch a championship.
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