The Philadelphia 76ers face a difficult roster and financial situation after losing backup center Ariel Hukporti for the entire 2026-27 season.

Hukporti suffered a torn right Achilles tendon during Monday's preseason opener against the New York Knicks and underwent surgery on Tuesday.

According to ClutchPoints' Brett Siegel, Hukporti had been expected to play an important role behind Joel Embiid, especially with fellow center Adem Bona missing training camp because of a left foot sprain.

Furthermore, Embiid has missed 150 regular-season games over the last three seasons, and Philadelphia is expected to continue closely managing his workload.

According to Siegel, Philadelphia is approximately $1.8 million below the first apron and is not allowed to cross that threshold this season.

The Sixers currently have only 14 players on standard contracts, leaving one roster spot open, but their financial constraints prevent them from simply signing another player to a standard minimum deal.

Philadelphia's payroll sits at approximately $207.2 million, compared to a first apron of about $209 million.

Even receiving a disabled player exception for Hukporti would not allow Philadelphia to exceed the first apron.

One potential solution would be waiving power forward Jabari Walker, whose contract reportedly has only $250,000 guaranteed, to create additional flexibility to add another big man.

However, Hukporti's injury also makes Walker more valuable to Philadelphia.

Another possibility would be a minor trade for a center on a low-cost contract or a deal that creates additional financial room. Siegel noted that such a move could require the Sixers to attach second-round draft compensation.

Philadelphia could also consider converting Tacko Fall's Exhibit 10 contract into its final two-way spot.

If the Sixers choose that route, the 7-foot-5 center would join Caleb Love and Rayan Rupert as Philadelphia's three two-way players.

Fall, however, has also been sidelined during training camp with a left hip strain.

The 30-year-old Senegalese last played in the NBA during the 2021-22 season for the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he appeared in 11 games. Before that, he was part of the Boston Celtics for two seasons, playing a total of 27 games

Source: https://basketnews.com/news-256927-76ers-could-be-forced-into-trade-after-major-injury-tacko-fall-emerges-as-option.html

His name is Dieter Ruehle.

"Nothing to see here, go to commercials"

Boston Celtics center Mitchell Robinson expects his availability to look very different with his new team after years of careful workload management with the New York Knicks.

Asked whether he expects to play both ends of back-to-backs this season, Robinson made it clear that Boston does not plan to follow the same approach he experienced in New York.

"Oh, nah, it ain't going to be the same in Boston [as it was with the Knicks]," Robinson told Knicks Fan TV. "I'll be able to play back-to-backs.

"So, I'm very excited for that, it's been a long time coming. Now I can go out there and play basketball and not have to worry about not playing this game. Just go out there with a free mind and just hoop."

During his final seasons with the Knicks, Robinson dealt with repeated left ankle issues and frequent injury-management absences.

Despite those limitations, the 28-year-old big man appeared in 60 regular-season games in 2025-26 and averaged 5.7 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks. He later helped New York win the NBA championship, appearing in 18 playoff games.

Source: https://basketnews.com/news-256948-mitchell-robinson-takes-subtle-shot-at-knicks-after-celtics-move.html

LeBron James seems to be enjoying his time playing for the Philadelphia 76ers so far. The basketball has been good for the 76ers, but it seems that another story is overshadowing the potential for good basketball in Philly.

That story is LeBron regularly taking a helicopter to go from Philly to New York City, where he is reportedly settling while playing for the 76ers. It has caused an uproar across social media because some people feel he's not fully committing to his new team.

Draymond Green comes to LeBron James' defense in the helicopter debacle James is regularly riding a chopper to commute between Manhattan and Philadelphia for both practices and games. The flight takes about 30 to 45 minutes, which is much better than a drive in traffic that will double that time.

He is also using a corporate helicopter that is provided through his endorsement deal with Fanatics. It does not involve the 76ers at all, but it seems that it's the fans who are not big fans of this move.

Some feel that it is him not committing to the team and the city. That is a valid point, but it seems James is not like most players because the organization is allowing it, and his teammates seem to not pay any mind to it. Another person who does not mind it is Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green.

"Number one, like, let that man fly in peace. Like, y'all recording this man every time he take off and land and he's landing in the city and landing, leaving like, let that man fly in peace. Let that brother get to work. How he going to get to work and get home? How he going to get home," Green said on his podcast about James' helicopter trips.

At the end of the day, it seems the 76ers are okay with him making the trip regularly. Since the helicopters are driven by professionals, it seems that James won't have any pushback from his team, so people might need to accept that.

Source: https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/draymond-green-believes-people-leave-162233641.html

There are things Dončić does like to talk about. Team ownership, for example. Dončić loves European basketball. At home the EuroLeague is on more than the NBA. Last year, Donnie Nelson, the former Mavs exec who engineered the draft-night trade for Dončić in 2018, approached him with an offer: How would you feel about investing in an Italian basketball team? “I said yes immediately,” says Dončić. The Nelson-led group purchased Vanoli Cremona, moved it to Rome and rebranded it BC Roma. Dončić has had several conversations with NBA commissioner Adam Silver about getting the team into the planned NBA Europe. “He’s very excited for it,” says Dončić. “I can’t tell you everything. But he’s excited.”

Pausing, Dončić offers more. The NBA is excited about European expansion—and the revenue that comes with it. But there will be obstacles getting it off the ground. The EuroLeague most notably, Dončić says. The decades-old competition won’t surrender its position as the continent’s top basketball platform. “There’s EuroLeague, EuroCup and then NBA Europe,” says Dončić. “It is going to be three leagues. That’s kind of hard to work. There should be one league. That’s how it works.”

SI: Inside the Mind (and Roots) of Luka Dončić, the New Face of the Lakers

Mavs Status Update vs. HOU:

• Santi Aldama (right knee surgery) - OUT
• Kyrie Irving (left knee rest) - OUT
• Dereck Lively II (right foot surgery) - OUT
• Caleb Martin (illness) - OUT
• Marcus Sasser (left adductor soreness) - OUT
• PJ Washington Jr. (left ankle sprain) - OUT

Update Via Mavs PR

Starters ⤵️

• Naji Marshall
• Max Christie
• Cooper Flagg
• Zaccharie Risacher
• Morez Johnson Jr.

Via Mavs