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Nick Nurse evaluates Sixers adding Ariel Hukporti in free agency
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- Nick Nurse evaluates Sixers adding Ariel Hukporti in free agency
Nick Nurse evaluates Sixers adding Ariel Hukporti in free agency
LAS VEGAS -- The Philadelphia 76ers were able to add to their center depth behind big man Joel Embiid in free agency. While the Sixers already had Adem Bona to give Embiid a break, they still needed some legitimate size at the position to anchor the bench unit.
President of Basketball Operations Mike Gansey and the front office identified Ariel Hukporti as a guy who can step in and really help in that area. A legitimate 7-feet tall, Hukporti is an unproven player after two seasons with the New York Knicks , but he has averaged 2.1 blocks per 36 minutes in his career and will look to make a name for himself in Philadelphia for coach Nick Nurse and Co.
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"I think the biggest thing is he can run," Nurse said in Las Vegas. "He's really big. Like, he's legit center size, and he can really run. I think, again, like you guys hear me say this all the time, and hopefully you won't have too much more--we got to be able to get back and get our defense set up, and I don't think we were able to do that well enough the last two years. I think just another guy that can run, another athlete, we're gonna have to do a good job of figuring how else he fits in, but he's got legit center size and plays pretty hard."
Hukporti has been behind both Mitchell Robinson and Karl-Anthony Towns while with the Knicks, but should receive more playing time in Philadelphia. When considering Embiid's injury history as well as Bona not yet sealing that backup big man spot for his own, it offers a chance for Hukporti to step in and give the Sixers some real production and good minutes at that spot.
"I mean, you see him play a little bit here and there," Nurse finished. "He's effective in his limited minutes. Can we grow him? And can he be more effective in extended minutes? Can he battle Bona for that position? Or who's going to start if Joel's not playing all that stuff? I think that's all in play as of now. Although Bona looked really good last week in his Turkish games, really good. So I think he'll have his hands full battling Bona."
It remains to be seen, but it's obvious that there will be a training camp battle when September rolls around for Nurse, Hukporti, and the Sixers.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Nick Nurse evaluates Sixers adding Ariel Hukporti in free agency
