Hukporti's Achilles tear leaves Sixers thin behind Embiid

Ariel Hukporti is out for the season with a torn Achilles, leaving Philadelphia with little center depth behind Joel Embiid.

NBA insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer report the Sixers are capped by first apron rules and likely won't add a big man on a standard deal until early December, when a prorated minimum stops pushing them over the threshold.

A trade shedding about $600,000 in salary is described as the only quicker path to a replacement. Until then, Philadelphia may lean on Jabari Walker, Dean Wade, Dominick Barlow or even LeBron James in small-ball lineups when Embiid rests.