76ers Sign Center Ariel Hukporti to One-Year, $3.4 Million Contract
76ers-sign-ariel-hukporti-one-year-deal
The Philadelphia 76ers have reached an agreement with center Ariel Hukporti on a one-year contract worth $3.4 million, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Hukporti, 24, spent his first two NBA seasons with the New York Knicks after being selected 58th overall in the 2024 draft. The 7-foot German averaged 2.2 points and 2.9 rebounds in 9.2 minutes over 54 games last season, starting five contests. He also appeared in 10 playoff games, including Games 4 and 5 of the NBA Finals.
New York declined to extend the $2.65 million qualifying offer required to make Hukporti a restricted free agent, opting instead to keep payroll below the league’s second tax apron. The decision allowed the center to enter unrestricted free agency and sign outright with Philadelphia.
The 76ers are expected to use a portion of their non-taxpayer mid-level exception to finalize Hukporti’s deal. The club still plans to allocate most of the same exception to a reported four-year agreement with forward Dean Wade. Philadelphia could have used the bi-annual exception for Hukporti, but that route now appears unlikely.
Hukporti will compete for backup minutes behind Joel Embiid, with rookie Adem Bona also in the mix. The move may signal the end of Andre Drummond’s tenure in Philadelphia.
Cap analyst Yossi Gozlan projects the 76ers to sit $4.6 million below the luxury-tax threshold and $13.2 million under the first-apron hard cap after accounting for their reported deals. Hukporti will be eligible for restricted free agency again in 2027.
Source: Hoops Rumors
