An MRI confirmed Tuesday that Philadelphia 76ers center Ariel Hukporti suffered a torn right Achilles tendon in the Sixers’ preseason opener Monday, the team announced.
Hukporti will undergo surgery Tuesday, according to the team, and further updates will be provided as appropriate
The 24-year-old big man out of Germany signed to a one-year, $3.4 million free agent contract with Philadelphia in July after winning a championship with the New York Knicks.
The Sixers are eligible to apply for and get awarded a $1.7 million disabled player exception (half of Hukporti’s 2026-27 salary), according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks.
However, with Philadelphia only $1.8 million below the first apron, they cannot sign a player to replace Hukporti to their open roster spot without either waiving a player or making a small trade to free up more cap space.
Philadelphia does have an open two-way spot it can look to fill with a center also. The Sixers signed 7-foot-5 big man Tacko Fall to an Exhibit 10 training camp deal as a chance to audition for the two-way spot, but Fall is currently sidelined with a left hip strain and will be reevaluated in approximately 7-10 days, according to the team.
The Sixers are also without the last remaining center on the roster, Adem Bona, who has yet to participate in training camp due to a left foot sprain. However, the team hopes he will be available at some point during preseason.
Including starter Joel Embiid, the Sixers’ other frontcourt options are Dean Wade, Dominik Barlow and Jabari Walker.
Philadelphia’s regular-season opener is Oct. 20 in New York against the Knicks.
