Knicks champion Ariel Hukporti reportedly signs with rival 76ers

The Knicks have suffered their first departure from their championship roster.

According to ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania, the rival 76ers have signed reserve center Ariel Hukporti to a one-year, $3.4 million deal, signing Hukporti to $1 million more than the vet minimum.

Hukporti, 24, was not extended the qualifying offer by the Knicks, but there was still the expectation that they could re-sign him to a minimum contract. Instead, Hukporti is heading down the Turnpike to a hated rival, and New York is left wondering if its frontcourt depth will be decimated if Mitchell Robinson is also not retained.

Hukporti, a former second-round pick, spent both of his two NBA seasons with the Knicks, playing in 54 games last season. He played 9.2 minutes per game, and saw some playing time in the playoffs, including the NBA Finals, when the likes of Robinson and Karl-Anthony Towns got into foul trouble.

Now, all attention turns towards Robinson, as the Knicks try to figure out how to keep their backup center while avoiding the second apron, which seems to be a mandate for James Dolan this offseason.