Furkan Korkmaz has a great short-term outlook with the Philadelphia 76ers.
Last summer, I believed that the Philadelphia 76ers re-signing Furkan Korkmaz to a two-year partially guaranteed deal was a mistake. I’ve gladly been proven wrong with the third-year wing having a breakout season. This uptick in play is great for the Sixers right now and next season, but it makes his future with the franchise beyond next season in doubt.
Korkmaz underperformed for his first two seasons in the NBA, but this season he has produced at the level his first round draft selection has warranted. This year, he’s averaged 9.7 points on 39.7 percent from the 3-point line.
He’s become the defacto floor spacer for the 76ers and has had some impressive games for Philly this season. Despite his break out season, there are still some flaws in the Turskish wing’s games moving forward.
More from The Sixer Sense
- 3 Sixers players who could help Team USA Basketball
- 76ers 2k24 ratings: 3 most underrated players on Philadelphia roster
- 76ers head coach Nick Nurse bares lofty plans for Paul Reed this season
- Grade the Trade: 76ers swap Tobias Harris for superstar PG in mock deal
- Sixers Podcast: Danny Green returns + James Harden bombshell
Probably the biggest of these issues is the fact he’s still a poor defender. It’s not that he doesn’t try, he just doesn’t possess the physical gifts to be a positive defender. Outside of defense, Korkmaz is still a streaky shooter from time-to-time, but he should improve in that area as he matures as a basketball player.
Philly can and has no choice but to live with the flaws that came with Korkmaz. He’s the only player on the Sixers who’s a high volume 3-point shooter, which is something that the franchise desperately needs.
The good news for the 76ers that he’s on a cheap deal that’s partially guaranteed next season. It’s more than likely that Philly exercises that option and he’s on the roster next year. The problem is that after next season he will become an unrestricted free agent.
If Korkmaz continues to develop as he has been, then he will probably have other teams might offer him decent sized contracts. The sad thing is that it’s unlikely that the Sixers will be able to pay him as much if not more than most teams when he hits free agency. This is due to the fact Philly is projected to have four players making at least $25 million each that year. If that holds true, it’s hard to see the Sixers keeping him.
Korkmaz looks to be a fixture with the Philadelphia 76ers for the immediate future, but it seems unlikely that the Sixers will be able to afford to keep him.