Perhaps the biggest issue facing the new superteam in Philadelphia from the jump has been their depth at the center position and how much they’re relying on Joel Embiid. And in the team’s first preseason game, that question mark became even more massive as backup big man Ariel Hukporti suffered a torn Achilles, ending his season.
That devastating blow leaves the Sixers with Adem Bona, a third-year, second-round pick with career averages of 5.3 points and 4.3 rebounds per game, Dominick Barlow, a fifth-year, 6’9” journeyman who has played almost as much small forward as center, and Jabari Walker, who played under 12 minutes a game for Philly last season.
It’s unclear if anyone in that trio is truly an NBA rotation player, but the 76ers are going to have to find out very soon, as Embiid hasn’t reached 40 games played since the 2022-23 season. Even if he can stay relatively healthy, he’s going to have his minutes heavily managed.
On Wednesday, speaking to the media, head coach Nick Nurse indicated that the team may be forced to lean on Dean Wade and LeBron James as small-ball center options. Those guys can defend, but nobody would mistake either one for a center. With almost zero wiggle room below their first apron hard cap, Philly is just going to have to find a way to patch things together in the front court and make it work.
Celtics can take advantage of Sixers in the paint
They’ve got enough talent to get by, for the most part, but this lack of size down low is going to be a major problem. Teams like the Celtics are going to look to exploit this weakness over and over again with two beasts in Neemias Queta and Mitchell Robinson, who are giant, athletic, strong, and relentless.
They are going to impose their will, live in the paint, and feast on the glass. That’s a tough ask for anyone in the league, let alone a hobbled Embiid, a 41-year-old LeBron, and a bunch of undersized and overtasked role players.
The Sixers are going to get destroyed on the glass, and they have no path to defending the rim this season, and that’s going to be a major problem. Smart teams are going to dominate them and force them to game plan and adjust, risking injury and exhaustion throughout the season.
It’s an area to attack and to exploit for rival teams, and one that could be the undoing for Philly. It’s hard to build a true contender with a team that isn’t elite at defense and rebounding, and on paper, with only these options at center, it’s very hard to imagine the 76ers having either one.
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