The center position will be one to watch, as the backup is going to be the biggest question mark headed into the season.
Training camp starts Tuesday, and there are some questions that need to be answered.
The Philadelphia 76ers won’t be able to answer anything until they figure out who will win some of these training camp battles. Some that will truly determine specific roles within the team.
One of their biggest battles will be the backup center spot behind Joel Embiid.
This has been something that many have been talking about all offseason. It’s been filled with great auditions, like adding Jaylen Brown and LeBron James, but it really will come down to who will be the reliever for Embiid.
Ariel Hukaporti and Adem Bona have both filled in for Embiid last season as he recovered from various injuries and an emergency appendicitis surgery. Bona assumed the mantle in Embiid’s absence, as he had some similarities to Embiid that translated better on the court than Hukaporti.
While Hukaporti has a larger size, standing at 7 feet tall, Bona is about 6 feet 10 inches. Bona is better offensively. Bona has even expanded his game to being able to make a couple jumpshots. Bona brings a higher energy to the team that can be beneficial, especially if the team is on a fastbreak. He has the athleticism to get down the floor for an easy basket. Hukaporti is a little bit more of the traditional center and can back you down in the post.
On the defensive end, they are both great rim protectors; what’s going to make a difference is how they defend in the paint. From their footwork to how deep they allow their opponent to get in the paint. This could be another area that gives Bona the slight edge. Bona, with his athleticism, is a little quicker on his feet and in that aspect can keep himself in front of his opponent.
What could help Hukaporti is that Bona suffered an injury, and even if it doesn’t sideline him for the start of training camp, he may be hindered because of it. Head coach Nick Nurse is definitely one who leans toward the player that isn’t a defensive liability. Not only that but if a player can be versatile and defend more than one position, then that means more opportunities when Nurse switches to his defensive sets.
Training camp is going to be one that many will have their eyes on. The players fighting for a spot will be on their A game, and it’s going to be a tough decision for Nurse in the weeks to come.
