The Philadelphia 76ers have applied for a disabled player exception following Ariel Hukporti’s season-ending torn Achilles, Jake Fischer reported Tuesday, October 27.
Hukporti, 24, is playing on a one-year, $3.4 million contract. The application could give Philadelphia limited additional flexibility to make a roster move following the injury, although the exception would not allow the team to replace Hukporti’s full salary.
A disabled player exception (DPE) allows an NBA team to acquire a replacement player when someone on its roster is expected to miss the remainder of the season because of a qualifying injury or illness. If approved, it can be used to sign a free agent to a one-year contract or acquire an eligible player through a trade. The exception cannot be used to sign a free agent to a multiyear deal.
The exception is generally worth the lesser of 50% of the injured player’s salary or the non-taxpayer midlevel exception. Based on Hukporti’s reported $3.4 million contract, the 50% figure would be approximately $1.7 million, subject to the NBA’s determination of the eligible salary and exception amount.
A DPE does not create an additional roster spot, reimburse a team for the injured player’s salary or guarantee that a suitable replacement can be acquired. Philadelphia must also comply with the league’s salary-cap and apron restrictions when making any subsequent move.
Hukporti spent his first two NBA seasons with the New York Knicks. He appeared in 54 games during the 2025-26 season, averaging 2.2 points and 2.9 rebounds in 9.2 minutes per game while shooting 56.3% from the field. Across 79 career regular-season appearances, he averaged 2.1 points and 2.7 rebounds.
Philadelphia made significant changes to its roster during the 2026 offseason, acquiring Jaylen Brown from Boston in exchange for Paul George and draft picks and signing LeBron James to a two-year, $8 million contract. The 76ers also added Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Anfernee Simons and Dean Wade as they built around Brown, James, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.
The NBA’s decision on Philadelphia’s application will determine whether the team receives the exception to pursue another roster move.
