Backup center Ariel Hukporti went down with a season-ending Achilles tear just moments into the Sixers’ preseason debut against the Knicks.
Philadelphia was already facing uncertainty regarding their big man depth prior to the injury, but the loss of Hukporti means that Adem Bona, Dominick Barlowand Jabari Walker are currently the only depth behind the often-injured Joel Embiid.
Despite the lack of options, the Sixers are unlikely to add another big man, or any other player on a standard NBA deal, before the prorated minimum salary options open up in early December, Marc Stein reports in his latest edition of The Stein Line (subscriber link).
Due to its financial outlook, the only way the team could bring in someone before that would be to make a trade that reduces the team’s salary by around $600K.
We have more notes from Stein on the NBA:
- Anthony Black and the Magic are unlikely to come to terms on an extension, as the two sides have not engaged in any meaningful negotiations to this point due to the team’s concerns regarding how expensive the core four of Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggsand Desmond Bane already is, Stein reports. Black is coming off a massively improved year where he raised his scoring from 9.4 points to 15.0 per game as a third-year guard, but there are questions about whether the Magic can afford to keep both him and Suggs.
- Brandon Miller is still viewed by league personnel as likely to land an extension with the Hornets, and some believe that it will be a richer deal than the five-year, $208MM extension signed by Amen Thompson earlier in the summer. Such a deal would be a bet on Miller’s offensive ceiling, which is higher than Thompson’s, even if his defense and health remain open questions.
- After trading away Lugentz Dort, the Thunder seem to be ready to invest in Cason Wallaceand Stein reports that extension discussions between the two sides have begun in the $25MM per year ballpark. Dyson Daniels and Christian Braun’s deals have been cited as inspiration, though Wallace may be looking for something closer to the five-year, $158MM deal signed by Keyonte George.
- Dwight Powell continues to try to cement a place with the Mavericks this season, including waiving his right to block a trade should he ultimately make the regular season roster, Stein reports. Powell’s contract situation would ordinarily grant him a de facto no-trade clause, but his decision could allow the Mavs to trade him after December 25. His status has seemed uncertain, especially after the team allowed Moussa Cisse’s deal to become guaranteed, but Powell has shown himself to be one of the team’s more dependable big men in preseason and has earned the praise of head coach Dusty May.