The Sixer Sense
Fansided

Could Furkan Korkmaz become as dangerous as Andrew Toney?

By Bret Stuter

(Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
(Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND, OH – MARCH 1: Brett Brown of the Philadelphia 76ers yells to his players during the first half against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena on March 1, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – MARCH 1: Brett Brown of the Philadelphia 76ers yells to his players during the first half against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena on March 1, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

The long and winding road

Now, he’s on the road back. That long and winding road where images surface, but solid facts on his status and updates are as scarce as stretch limos on a dirt road. But still, he is on the road back. And that includes being on the road with his team.  So that’s very good news.

But he’s along with the team in terms of “getting the NBA experience” and notsomuch about working with his teammates in drills. Until he takes the court with his teammates, and until the coaches find reason to insert him into games, he will not be a factor this season.

So 2018-2019 it is then?

With Furkan Korkmaz on the treamill now, and the season ending in a month, I don’t see any reason to believe he will come back to the team in time for either the regular season nor the playoffs. He’s a rookie.  In fact, now he’s a rusty rookie.  And the team will not put him into a high pressure game without knocking off all that rust. That means that it looks like a 2018-2019 season return for Korkmaz.

Much like Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, and now Markelle Fultz, the delay of getting Korkmaz to the roster is two-fold. On one hand, it means that he will have matured another year under the guiding tutelage of NBA level coaches. He will know his teammates, the season, Philadelphia, and Wells Fargo Arena. On the other hand, it will give him a chance to improve his game by reinforcing weaker skills over this time frame. Already quite adept offensively, he can work on his positioning, defense, and three point shooting. That way, by the time he returns to the NBA, he will be a much better NBA player.