Sixers: Early prediction of the small forward depth chart

Sixers’ small forward depth chart: Furkan Korkmaz — THIRD STRING

Furkan Korkmaz was also listed as the second string shooting guard in our two-guard breakdown. He will spend ample time at both wing spots, with Tyrese Maxey, Shake Milton, and Jaden Springer all in line for some reps at the guard positions (not to mention Curry, Green, and Simmons’ eventual replacement).

For the Sixers, Korkmaz’s greatest asset is, to no one’s surprise, his 3-point stroke. He was the only rotation player who averaged more 3-point attempts per 36 minutes than Danny Green last season. When Green got hurt in the playoffs, it was Korkmaz who Doc Rivers turned to in the starting five.

A lot of Philadelphia’s offense is oriented around the perimeter, as counterintuitive as that might sound for a team built around Joel Embiid. With Embiid sucking up space inside, the Sixers’ offense is rooted in the shooters placed around him. When they take advantage of the open shot attempts that are created by Embiid’s gravity, the offense is hard to stop. Very few players on the roster have a quicker trigger than Korkmaz.

Defense has long been a concern with Korkmaz, but the 6-foot-6 wing has added muscle and improved his fundamentals on that side of the ball. He’s hardly a “good” defender, but he’s no longer clueless and physically inferior.

The Sixers will slide Korkmaz into various lineup combinations because of his shooting. He will likely start the season alongside Thybulle as one of Doc Rivers’ core bench pieces, with Maxey primed for a sixth man breakout (but far from guaranteed to have one).