After a successful run overseas, Furkan Korkmaz is joining the Philadelphia 76ers at the right time.
We shouldn’t expect much from Furkan Korkmaz next season. While he has the shooting stroke needed to produce, his thin frame is bound to give him some struggles — especially on the defensive end. He isn’t quite ready physically, and the Philadelphia 76ers will likely rely on more experienced hands as they make their first playoff push in quite some time.
Philadelphia 76ers
That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, though. At 19 years of age, Korkmaz is still one of the youngest prospects from the 2016 class, which means there’s plenty of room for further growth. His frame has time to fill out, while his game should develop nicely under the current guidance he’ll have in Philadelphia.
There’s a good chance that we’ll see Korkmaz getting some extended runs with the Delaware 87ers next season, which would allow him to see the court on a relatively consistent basis. But he’ll also be in a good spot with Philly, as the team’s developmental system has already proven itself to be among the best in the NBA.
Brett Brown has maxed out the growth of young talent in the past, and this Sixers rotation is tailor made for players of Korkmaz’s ilk. He’s a high-octane shooter with impressive instincts for a wing at his age. For a team that likes to shoot and has been in need of legitimate shooting throughout their rebuild, players like Korkmaz help fill a significant gap in the rotation.
Korkmaz will also have the luxury of working under J.J. Redick — a prime mentoring opportunity. Redick has stated on multiple occasions that he’s embracing the leadership role he’ll be taking in Philly, which correlates directly with cultivating the younger talent on the roster.
There’s a lot Redick could teach Korkmaz, from understanding different actions offensively to simple preparation at the NBA level. They both share extensive parallels as shooters, while Korkmaz could learn an extensive amount from simply watching Redick’s activity when operating off the ball.
Korkmaz’s repertoire could feasibly expand beyond Redick’s. He’s 6-foot-8, while his playmaking chops, albeit a work in progress, have shown some promising flashes. Given his size and vision, there’s a chance for Korkmaz to become a viable secondary creator on a Sixers team that desperately needs them alongside Simmons and Fultz.
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That doesn’t, however, negate just how important Redick’s presence could be. If Korkmaz can refine the rest of his game while learning the nuances of his position from Redick, the potential for offensive improvement increases dramatically.
Not many people think of Redick as a star, and his game has always been more condusive to that role player label. But somebody who’s able to generate space and keep a defender engaged to the extent that Redick can is a rare talent. There’s plenty that Korkmaz could transfer from Redick’s game to his, all of which would have a profound effect on his growth as an NBA player.
Korkmaz may not see the floor much this season, but that may be best for his long term development. He’ll have the veteran guidance young players need, while the Sixers’ developmental staff is more than capable of bringing him along behind the scenes.
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There are fans who want to see the Turk on the court right away — and that may end up disappointing a few — but extended time on the bench, given his current situation, may not be the worst of experiences.