Is Ariel Hukporti ready to become the Sixers’ backup center? A Knicks reporter weighs in.

A wild 76ers offseason has finally settled, after they stunningly signed LeBron James and traded for Jaylen Brown to vault into championship contender status.

To help Sixers followers get acquainted with the newcomers on this revamped roster, The Inquirer reached out to reporters who covered those players on their previous teams.

First up is The Athletic’s James Edwards III, who covered reserve center Ariel Hukporti during his first two NBA seasons with the New York Knicks.

Gina Mizell: Hukporti obviously did not get much playing time during his first two NBA seasons behind Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson. So how would you describe his game, and where did he most develop (or not develop) behind the scenes?

James Edwards III: Hukporti is your typical “traditional” center. He runs the floor hard. He goes after loose balls. He attempts to be active defensively. I think he’s improved as a screener from Year 1 to Year 2. It’s really nerdy stuff, but a good screener does positively impact offenses.

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He isn’t unskilled, but his skills haven’t revealed themselves on the court. He doesn’t really do anything off the dribble. He isn’t a great finesse finisher right now. And while he doesn’t shoot threes, I’ve watched him shoot threes behind the scenes and the shot doesn’t look bad. I could see him trying to add the three-ball to his game with more opportunities and reps.

GM: Were you surprised Hukporti left the Knicks in free agency? Or did you think there was a chance he would stay given Robinson’s departure?

JE: I was surprised because I didn’t think other teams would have interest, let alone give him more than the minimum. He didn’t play many significant minutes for New York. He’s going into his third NBA season but he’s 24. He’s had a couple knee injuries over the last few seasons. I wouldn’t have been surprised if the Knicks wanted to keep him around as the third center, but, yeah, I was surprised he got the deal he did from another team.

GM: Simply put, is Hukporti ready to be a backup center — and a spot starter when Joel Embiid is injured or resting? He will be competing with Adem Bona for that job.

JE: To be honest, I don’t think so, not for where the Sixers want to go. If a rebuilding team or a team without championship aspirations this season wanted to see him in that role, that would make more sense.

Philadelphia giving him 10-plus minutes a night … I just haven’t seen enough from him to believe that he can immediately be a reliable backup option every single night. I’m not saying that he can’t do it, but I haven’t really seen anything to suggest that he can right now. I’m rooting for him because he’s a good guy and works hard. I hope I’m wrong.

GM: Despite the sparse playing time, what do you think Hukporti most gained/learned (on or off the floor) from being immersed in the Knicks’ championship run?

JE: He got to be around great players and [learned] what makes them tick, how they work. He learned about standards. Hukporti played for two disciplined coaches in Tom Thibodeau and Mike Brown, both of whom had high standards.

I also think it helps that all Hukporti knows at the NBA level is winning, which can’t be said for many Knicks draft picks between the late 1970s and today. At the very least, he’s been around a positive program and understands the inner workings of winning.

GM: How would you describe Hukporti as a teammate and locker-room presence?

JE: Great guy. His teammates — both veterans and youngsters — loved him, and so did his coaches. He’s not afraid to show his personality, and that was in New York where the franchise pushes players not to show their personalities. Funny guy, too. I never had a bad interaction with Hukporti and I don’t know anyone who did.

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