Furkan Korkmaz injury complicates Philadelphia 76ers off-season

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BROOKLYN, NY – JUNE 22: A close up view of the #1 draft pick for the Philadelphia 76ers Markelle Fultz’s card during the 2017 NBA Draft on June 22, 2017 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) /

2017 draft and stash decisions

Impact II – How to handle the three players drafted in 2017 and stashed overseas?

From the moment the Philadelphia 76ers drafted after Markelle Fultz, most guessed those players were looking at playing overseas for at least one year. With an injured Furkan Korkmaz, and with his limited play in the 2017-2018 season, the 76ers front office must weigh the pros and cons of adding more players to the roster to develop next year. The team will have holes in the roster with the expiration of both Amir Johnson and J.J. Redick contracts. Plus the team currently has a hole from the Jahlil Okafor trade which sent both he and Nik Stauskas to the Brooklyn Nets for Trevor Booker.

The deferment of Korkmaz for the season (or majority of it) places his timetable of development into the 2018-2019 season. That will limit the team’s ability to take on three more prospects to deliver. As such, that will likely delay the arrival of french wing Mathias Lessort. While some optimistically project the 6-foot-9 Frenchman as an NBA center, he is more likely projected as an NBA wing. As such, he needs to work on his perimeter shot. And with the team likely working on a rehabbing Korkmaz, there may simply not be enough room at the inn.