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76ers land Karl-Anthony Towns backup from Knicks, but it’s not Mitchell Robinson
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- 76ers land Karl-Anthony Towns backup from Knicks, but it’s not Mitchell Robinson
76ers land Karl-Anthony Towns backup from Knicks, but it's not Mitchell Robinson appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
The Philadelphia 76ers will likely always need center depth for as long as Joel Embiid is the team's leader. They got just that when they plucked away a backup center from a New York Knicks team that just won the NBA Finals. The team didn't sign Mitchell Robinson, who was one of the best players on the open market , though.
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Instead, Ariel Hukporti wa s inked to a one-year, $3.4 million deal , according to Shams Charania. Hukporti has played a limited role over two seasons with the Knicks since being drafted with the 58th overall pick in 2024. He averaged just 2.2 points and 2.9 rebounds per game last season. The German big man plays with a great motor and has shown flashes of potential, though.
Hukporti already has an NBA Cup victory and an NBA Finals championship on his resume. He could bring a winning pedigree to a 76ers team that has struggled in the postseason in recent years. Hukporti had a legitimate role during New York's title run, too. He played in 10 postseason games and averaged 7.6 minutes per game during that stretch.
Of course, Embiid is the 76ers' starting center. He is a former MVP winner and one of the most talented players in the NBA, but he has always struggled with injuries. The 76ers will view Hukporti as insurance for when Embiid inevitably has to miss time. The former MVP often skips the back half of back-to-backs, and with Tyrese Maxey and V.J. Edgecombe now holding down a brilliant backcourt, Philadelphia can't afford to lack size and lose games when Embiid sits.
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