The 76ers’ center situation has been pushed into the spotlight all summer, and the injury pileup has only made it messier.
Adem Bona still hasn’t appeared in training camp after suffering a setback just weeks before Media Day. Then, two days into camp, the team took another hit when Tacko Fall went down with a hip injury that will keep him out for some time. On opening night of the preseason, Ariel Hukporti suffered an Achilles injury that will end his 2026-2027 NBA season before it begins.
Philadelphia does have an open roster spot, but filling it with another center before December is not the quick fix it might look like. According to The Stein Line, sources indicate the Sixers are “unlikely” to add a big man on a standard NBA deal before early December. A trade is still possible, but the team does not appear eager to make a major move that soon, especially with a number of players not even eligible to be dealt before December 15.
That slow approach happens to be good news for Jabari Walker.
Walker’s spot has been one of the first to come up whenever Philadelphia’s roster math gets complicated. He is owed only $250,000 of his $2.5 million salary unless he remains with the team past January 10, 2027, which has made him the type of player who can be squeezed out when a contending team needs room. At one point, when Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was planning to sign with the Sixers, Walker looked vulnerable.
Instead, Philadelphia sent Johni Broome to the Los Angeles Clippers in a trade, a move that created enough financial flexibility to keep Walker in place. Then Hukporti’s injury opened the door for another round of uncertainty, but Walker’s strong offseason and the organization’s trust in him appear to have bought him more breathing room.
He has taken advantage of the chance. In three preseason games, Walker has logged heavy minutes and moved around the front court. The 24-year-old is averaging 12.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game, while shooting 50.0% from the field and 41.7% from three.
His long-term outlook is still unsettled beyond that early January date, but for now, Walker is in a good spot.
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LeBron Is Already Changing Something Big Inside The Sixers
LeBron James has already started leaving a mark inside the 76ers locker room, and for Jabari Walker, the biggest surprise has been how quickly that presence has translated into everyday leadership. After Philadelphias 2026 offseason additions, Walker described James as more than just another big name in the room, pointing to the way he carries himself and the respect he draws from teammates.
Walkers takeaway was simple: James has a different kind of influence. He has played alongside elite stars before, but this one stands out for the way it changes the tone around the team and gives Philadelphia a new voice as it tries to build something meaningful. The full effect of that dynamic is still unfolding, but it is already hard to miss inside the organization. [Read more 🡒]
Labaron Philon Jr. Is Giving The Sixers A Reason To Believe
Labaron Philon Jr. has spent the preseason doing exactly what a young guard is supposed to do when a team is looking for answers: make the ball move, keep the offense organized and show he belongs. The rookie has flashed real playmaking upside, and his recent work included a strong outing with 14 points and 7 assists in 25 minutes, the kind of line that catches attention even in October. For Philadelphia, that matters because the backcourt has been searching for someone who can help steady the second unit and ease some of the creation load that falls so heavily on Tyrese Maxey.
Philons path to minutes was never supposed to be this direct, but the Sixers do not have many natural floor generals on the roster, and that reality can accelerate a players timeline fast. Drafted 22nd overall, he is already making a case that his feel for the game can translate sooner than expected, giving the coaching staff something it badly needs: a reserve option who can bring a little tactical stability when the starters sit. The bigger question now is whether that preseason promise holds once the games start counting for real. [Read more 🡒]
Sixers Frontcourt Battle Just Got Murkier Before The Season Opens
The Sixers preseason frontcourt picture has become a little harder to read with Dominick Barlow still sidelined by back soreness and short on chances to build momentum before the games start to matter. He has been limited throughout camp and has yet to appear in a preseason game, which leaves him racing the clock as the exhibition schedule winds down and the regular season approaches.
Barlow is not the only big man whose availability has been in flux, either, which only adds to the uncertainty around Philadelphias depth in the paint. Adem Bona is still working through a foot injury, while Ariel Hukporti has already been hit by an Achilles injury, leaving the Sixers with more questions than answers as they try to sort out the frontcourt rotation. [Read more 🡒]