I don't see any reason why you can't change the design. If it was
me I'd do rear ports with driver chambers. When you chamber the box
it also serves as box bracing which is always good. I would also
add MDF panels to the inside of each chamber to add wall mass
to lower cabinet resonance and as a bonus install a wooden rod
[or whatever] to cross brace the left/right chamber walls as it will
couple the two sides and lower cabinet resonance even more. Install some sound conditioning polyfill [loosely] and tame the
echo. If you want to go the extra mile, make denser sound
conditioning pillows for each wall of the chamber [except front
baffle], use Acousta-Stuf polyfill or fiberglass encased in
polyester batting to keep the fibers inside the 'pillow', attach
the pillows to the wall using 3M spray glue. This will leave the
chamber 'open' so the port functions well.
Like this;
http://home.pacbell.net/lordpk/robarray/16.jpg
This is what the inside of one chamber looks like when peeking into
that 6" port in the back. Those pillows are on each wall, the port
is able to function well as there is no obstruction by filling the
whole chamber will polyfill and it kills the echo very well.
If you execute the cabinet construction well, it should be pretty
sweet.