3 trades to help the 76ers honor Furkan Korkmaz’s trade request

The Philadelphia 76ers are expected to explore multiple avenues toward potential improvement at the NBA trade deadline. One of the most likely candidates to be traded is Furkan Korkmaz, the Sixers’ 25-year-old flamethrower from Turkey.

Of course, the Sixers have kept their flamethrower locked away in the tool shed for most of the season. Korkmaz has only appeared in 25 games for Philadelphia, averaging 10.2 minutes per contest — the lowest mark since his rookie season.

To potentially seal his fate, Korkmaz has reportedly requested a trade (last time he did this, he was not traded and ended up signing an extension, so…). Let’s dive into three feasible moves to help the Sixers offload Korkmaz, and potentially get better in the process.

76ers trade Furkan Korkmaz to Jazz

Jarred Vanderbilt’s name has already been tied to Philadelphia and he’s a fan favorite in the realm of hypothetical trades. Luckily for the Sixers, his salary matches quite neatly with Korkmaz. While the Sixers would obviously have to attach more value to pique Utah’s interest, this does allow them to pursue Vanderbilt without necessarily involving Matisse Thybulle.

According to Hoops Hype, the Jazz are looking for the “equivalent” of a first-round pick in exchange for Vando’s talents — a fair price. The Charlotte pick figures to land very close to the first round, without the guaranteed contract stipulations tied to an actual first-round pick. The Sixers can toss in another future second-round pick for good measure.

Vanderbilt is a starting-caliber talent, a whirlwind defensive presence who can help protect the rim from the weak side and wreak havoc in passing lanes. He’s the type of athlete Philly desperately needs in the frontcourt, and a genuine presence on the glass (something the Sixers have long lacked beyond Embiid).

He wouldn’t be the traditional bulky big most fans are clamoring for in the form of, say, Andre Drummond, but Vanderbilt has the versatility to anchor the defense alongside P.J. Tucker in small-ball units or share the court with Embiid in certain lineups. He’s not a great shooter, but he’s enough of a deep threat to at least keep the defense thinking about him.