Ariel Hukporti leaves Knicks for 76ers in NBA free agency

Ariel Hukporti is moving down I-95.

The backup center agreed to a one-year, $3.4 million deal with the 76ers, according to ESPN — which is about $1 million more than the minimum — making Hukporti the first official defector of the championship Knicks squad.

The 24-year-old’s departure doesn’t move the needle much for the Knicks — he was sparsely used last season — but reiterated New York’s need for frontcourt additions.

Knicks center Ariel Hukporti (55) during a playoff game against the 76ers. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

As it stands, Karl-Anthony Towns is the only natural center or power forward on the roster.

Mitchell Robinson, the top paint presence on the Knicks the last two seasons, is their biggest free agent and remained on the market, as of Wednesday morning.

Ariel Hukporti celebrates after the Knicks win the NBA championship. NBAE via Getty Images

However, the Knicks are unlikely to re-sign Robinson unless James Dolan changes his mind and spends into the second apron.

As it stood Wednesday morning, the Knicks had roughly $9 million to sign three players while staying under the second apron.

Hukporti, who shares an agent with Robinson, was a potential option to fill minutes at backup center and the Knicks had built equity into his development.

The German was drafted 58th overall in 2024 and logged two seasons with the Knicks, averaging 2.1 points in 79 overall appearances. His strengths are rebounding and shot-blocking, but showed his inexperience at times last season while getting lost on defense.

His further development will be in Philly, where Joel Embiid is still the starter but always leaves plenty of opportunities for backups because of injuries.