Sixers’ injuries pile up as Nick Nurse considers LeBron James at center

The Sixers have plenty of star power. Finding enough healthy bodies behind those stars is becoming a project.

With Ariel Hukporti expected to miss the season following surgery to repair a ruptured right Achilles, Philadelphia is already short at center. Wednesday’s injury updates offered little immediate relief.

Dominick Barlow, Anfernee Simons and Adem Bona will miss the next two preseason games, according to team updates relayed by Kyle Neubeck of PHLY Sports and Dave McMenamin of ESPN.

Barlow is consulting with medical staff about treatment options for a back issue. Simons participated in a limited capacity Wednesday while managing a hamstring problem. Bona progressed to on-court work as he recovers from a left foot sprain.

All three will sit Thursday against Brooklyn and Saturday against Boston. That leaves the Oct. 16 preseason finale against the Celtics as their last opportunity for game action before the regular season.

The complication, as Hoops Rumors notes, is that the Sixers are pressed against their first-apron hard cap. Adding a 15th standard contract would require a cost-cutting trade. Hukporti remains one of the 14 players under standard contracts despite his injury.

So Nick Nurse may have to get creative. The coach identified Jabari Walker, Dean Wade, Barlow when healthy and even LeBron James as possibilities at center when Joel Embiid sits, per Neubeck.

Philadelphia has an open two-way spot, but camp invitee Tacko Fall is dealing with a hip strain, too.

There was some encouraging news — Nurse expects the starting five to play Thursday. That should give the Sixers a chance to see their biggest names together, even as the options behind them keep shrinking.

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