Philadelphia 76ers: Ranking every player on the 2020-21 roster

Ranking every Sixers player #10 — Furkan Korkmaz

At the ten spot is Furkan Korkmaz. Still just 23 years old, Korkmaz is entering his fourth season. After almost leaving the team last offseason, Furkan returned and had the best year of his career. Appearing in 72 games and starting in 12, Korkmaz solidified his role in the 76ers rotation. His game-winner against Portland in the fifth game of the season was a welcome sight for fans and the organization alike after a tumultuous year off and on the court in 2018. After scoring 65 points in two games in February, things were looking up for Korkmaz. Despite a couple of poor performances, Korkmaz continued to score in double figures as the season ended in March and during the restart in August. With limited minutes in the postseason, Korkmaz struggled — tallying just three points in the entire Boston series.

Korkmaz appears to be in line for a significant bench role this season -– apart from Dwight Howard and Shake Milton, it seems Furkan Korkmaz will be the next man off the bench. With his averages steadily increasing throughout his career, Furkan is due for a breakout season. It could not come at a better time for the Turkish native, being in the last year of his contract.

While breaking down Furkan’s game, let’s start with the bad stuff — defense. Korkmaz, throughout his career, has averaged more fouls per game than steals and blocks combined. Furthermore, in 24 more appearances, Korkmaz only recorded 12 more steals and 14 more blocks. The blocks stat is promising, given he had three total blocks for the first two years of his career. Regardless, at 6-foot-7 and usually guarding the other team’s worst offensive player, Korkmaz, needs more than this.

There is also a picture that statistics cannot tell. Korkmaz gets bullied defensively. His long, lean frame allows him to get punished on that side of the ball. He is not the quickest player either and often tries to spring himself free on the fast break, leaving himself vulnerable to getting beaten off the dribble. He rarely, if ever, guards someone taller than him. Put simply, he is a horrid defender. Korkmaz does not need to be a good defender, though. In fact, he does not even have to be a serviceable defender. All he needs to do is not to be a liability on that side of the ball. We know he can contribute offensively — the best part of his game — but his future depends on the degree of his ineptness on defense.

Now to the fun stuff, the offense. Korkmaz can shoot the lights out… most of the time. Yes, he is a streaky shooter, but it is hard to argue with shooting 40 percent from deep last season while usually being the only perimeter threat on the court. He has steadily improved the rest of his offensive game as well. Last season, his field goal percentage sat at 43 percent, but he only averaged two non-3-point attempts per game. His league experience has helped him track down rebounds — something you would expect from a player of Korkmaz’s size.

If there is a place for his game to improve on the offensive side, it is passing. His assist rate stayed the same while his turnover rate increased. Hopefully, it comes down to his lack of experience with some turnovers being the right idea, just a little too late. However, there are quite a few turnovers that leave fans and the organization wondering if he belongs in the NBA. Furkan will have a role off of the bench and have the time to prove himself. Offensively, he needs to continue his growth and point production. On top of that, he needs to clean up his game by providing more assists and turning the ball over less.

The last time he was a free agent, Korkmaz was on his way back to Turkey after not receiving an NBA offer until the 76ers came calling late. It is a make-or-break year for Furkan. We know what he brings — a streaky 3-point shooter who can be a liability on the defensive end. His playing time hinges on his defensive aptitude. Furkan can undoubtedly carve out a role for himself as a 3-point shooter.

If he wants to elevate his career, however, Korkmaz needs to improve on the defensive end. He will get the playing time to prove himself, so now it comes down to whether or not Korkmaz can perform. With a player efficiency rating (PER) of 12 last season, Korkmaz was below the league average. His added value — an estimation of points added above a replacement — was at 36.9 last season. This is an incredible number for a role player. But his PER suffers because of his defense.

For Furkan, the formula is simple, keep improving on the offensive end but focus on the defensive side. It is not an overstatement to say that this is the most critical year in his NBA career. Perhaps, his NBA dreams rely on his performance this season.

— MATT PLESCO