Philadelphia 76ers: Ranking every player on the 2019-20 roster
15. Furkan Korkmaz
After a midseason trade request and very little playing time in 2018-19, most thought the Furkan Korkmaz experience was over. The Sixers even declined his team option. Yet here we are — the Kork, fresh off a popping in FIBA World Cup play — returning to Philadelphia.
In Korkmaz, the Sixers have a theoretically skilled shooter who can provide spacing on the wing. Korkmaz’s 3-point percentages haven’t matched his reputation to date, but there’s reason to believe his mechanics, pedigree and touch translate at some point. Perhaps next season.
If that’s indeed the case, Korkmaz has a serious case for fringe rotation minutes. The Sixers are still a bit dry when it comes to high-end shooters, especially following J.J. Redick’s departure. Korkmaz doesn’t provide the same off-ball movement as Redick, but he’s someone defenses will pay attention to.
Despite the reasons for optimism, however, I still find myself uninspiring by Korkmaz’s presence. Beyond his 3-point shot, he’s just not very good. He doesn’t provide much off the dribble, he’s a net negative on defense, and his physical tools are hardly NBA ready. He needs to add muscle.
Unless Korkmaz undergoes serious improvements in his third NBA season, it’s difficult to envision the Turk having a spot in the league beyond 2020. Heck, there’s a decent chance Korkmaz ends up on the cutting block if any promising free agents become available.