Tacko Fall makes NBA return, signs with Sixers

While he was far from sharp on Thursday, Embiid played 24 minutes without incident against the Nets. More concerning than the 1-of-5 night from the field was his eight turnovers, but it’s just the preseason. Embiid won’t make a habit of that, especially with Tyrese Maxey and LeBron James on the floor. Most importantly, the former MVP needs to stay healthy, as the 76ers are without Adem Bona (foot) and lost Ariel Hukporti (Achilles) for the season on Monday. If Embiid can avoid the extended absences that have recurred throughout his career, he should exceed his ADP (50) by a safe margin.

Hukporti signed with the 76ers at the start of free agency after spending the first two years of his career with the Knicks. He was expected to provide more center depth behind Joel Embiid, but he won’t be available for this season. Adem Bona (foot) is currently out as well, but he should be the primary backup center behind Embiid, though the 76ers will likely have to make a move to bring in another big.

Starting for Joel Embiid, Hukporti played five minutes against his former team before leaving the game with a non-contact right leg injury. The 76ers center appeared to take an awkward step back while defending Karl-Anthony Towns, then fell to the floor and immediately grabbed the lower back area of his right leg. Hukporti required assistance to the locker room and did not return. With Adem Bona (foot) currently out, the 76ers’ center depth would take a significant hit if Hukporti misses time.

Walker’s contract for the upcoming season isn’t fully guaranteed until January 10, so he still has work to do. He looked sharp in Monday’s preseason opener, shooting 3-of-5 from beyond the arc and showing more confidence in his shot than last season. Walker’s role may also grow in importance because of injuries to Philadelphia’s other rotation bigs. Adem Bona (foot) is recovering from a sprain, while Ariel Hukporti suffered a lower-right-leg injury in the first half of Monday’s game. Given starting center Joel Embiid’s injury history, Walker is someone to watch with Bona and Hukporti sidelined.

The 76ers will open their preseason without multiple key players, including Tyrese Maxey, LeBron James and Joel Embiid. With those expected starters unavailable, KCP, Wade and Hukporti will start. The latter may be the one to watch, as he’ll be competing with the currently injured Adem Bona for the right to back up Embiid. There isn’t much to gain from drafting Hukporti in most leagues, but Embiid’s injury history makes it possible that the former Knick will be a relevant streamer at some point during the regular season.

Fall will miss at least two weeks with a left hip strain, the 76ers announced Thursday. Once he’s healthy, Fall will compete with Adem Bona and Ariel Hukporti for backup big man minutes behind Joel Embiid.

Bona, who is expected to compete with Ariel Hukporti for the backup center job, suffered the injury while representing Turkïye during FIBA World Cup qualifiers. The 76ers announced that he’ll be re-evaluated when training camp begins at the end of the month. While Bona’s injury won’t significantly affect his fantasy draft value, missing regular-season games would remove a potential safety net for managers who select Joel Embiid.

Embiid and the 76ers disappointingly saw their season end as the Knicks swept them in the second round of the NBA Playoffs. Since then, there’s been a change in leadership, with Gansey replacing Daryl Morey. In addition to acquiring Jaylen Brown from the Celtics, the 76ers signed LeBron James in free agency. Expectations going into next season will be sky-high, and it helps that Embiid can use this offseason to hone his craft instead of recovering from another injury. “This is like the first summer I think in a while that he’s been healthy, so he’s been in the gym working out,” Gansey told ESPN. “He’s been lifting weights. He’s extra motivated. He wants to play a lot of games, and he’s excited about the group we’ve built now. Even before these trades and LeBron, I think he was excited. So he’s motivated to have a good year and he’s ready to go.” When healthy, Embiid can be one of the most valuable players in fantasy basketball. However, the injury history will likely keep many managers from selecting him with a first-round pick in drafts.

The addition of LeBron James via free agency has opened the door for others to consider Philadelphia as a new home, even though the 76ers have limited roster space. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has agreed to a one-year deal, and there have reportedly been conversations between the team and Love’s agent. However, the 76ers have two backup centers on the roster in Adem Bona and offseason signing Ariel Hukporti. Also, the KCP signing filled Philadelphia’s standard contract slots, meaning someone would have to be moved to make room for Love. In a reserve role, the veteran forward/center is unlikely to be in a position to consistently impact fantasy basketball next season.

The 76ers had until Monday to waive Bona without incurring any financial penalty, but they have reportedly decided to hold on to the former second-round pick. As a result, he’s guaranteed to make a shade under $2.3 million next season. In his second NBA season, Bona averaged 4.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 17.4 minutes per game. He’ll combine with offseason signing Ariel Hukporti to provide depth behind Joel Embiid, which makes both players non-factors in fantasy basketball.