The Sixers and Their Furkan Korkmaz Dilemma

By George Kondoleon | May 8, 2017

Mar 29, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers head coach Brett Brown talks with referee Scott Wall (31) after being called for a technical foul during the second half against the Atlanta Hawks at Wells Fargo Center. The Atlanta Hawks won 99-92. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

The Sixers drafted Turkish guard Furkan Korkmaz with the expectation that he would be a draft and stash, but may come to the NBA sooner than expected.

The Sixers and Bryan Colangelo were praised for their wonderful 2016 NBA Draft performance. They landed a superstar in Ben Simmons, whose unique ball-handling ability pins him amongst the players with the highest ceilings. But it wasn’t just at the top where Colangelo earned his praise, it’s how they used their next two picks.

Philadelphia snagged Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot with the 24th pick, which was followed by a very promising rookie season. With two draftees and limited roster space, Colangelo decided to take guard Furkan Korkmaz with the hope of him staying in Turkey for the near future.

Korkmaz initially went into the draft with a different mindset. He intended to come to the NBA right away, even with his unpolished skill-set. After some convincing, Korkmaz stayed in Turkey. Fast forward one year and the Sixers are in the same predicament.

With roster spots still at a premium, and Korkmaz still showing rawness, the Sixers would benefit from his arrival being delayed once again. But of course, Korkmaz has some pull in this matter. Korkmaz could try to force the team’s hand by committing to his quest to the NBA this summer. It wouldn’t be a tragic moment if Korkmaz does find his way in a Sixers uniform next season, but it does stronghold the team when it comes to adding key free agent pieces.

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The team has valued contracts that they aren’t willing to part with. Robert Covington and T.J. McConnell have solidified themselves as NBA players. Gerald Henderson played decent enough to earn himself another season, and Jerryd Bayless hasn’t had the chance to prove his contract. The plan for the remaining spots is to attack team needs in an aggressive manner.

The next two summers are important for Colangelo’s plan for the team. The window to attack free agency is closing slowly, as Philadelphia’s top players are nearing the end of their rookie contracts. Aggressively going after free agents now allows the team to push forward with a consistent core, but instead Korkmaz would be taking up the spot.

Korkmaz has the potential to be a consistent catch and shoot option, but has shown glaring holes in his game otherwise. Korkmaz’s development will be slow, and growing in Turkey will bring him more immediate NBA success. Which is what the Sixers would benefit from. Growing pains will be inevitable for rookie contract players, but delaying when Philadelphia sees Korkmaz in place for a polished veteran will ease the bumps.

Another option could be the Sixers using Korkmaz in a trade package. There’s no telling what moves Colangelo will try to make, but he does bolster four second-round picks that have some value to cash strapped teams. Adding a young inexpensive first-round talent to a trade could bump up the return for Philadelphia. His desire to come to the NBA this summer could attract teams looking to add both depth and a promising young player.

Next: 76ers offseason checklist

The Sixers’ Korkmaz dilemma will be interesting to watch unfold. While it never hurts to add a young player to a rebuilding team, the Sixers are looking to move forward in the process. It could have a small domino effect in roster moves, but nothing that could cripple the roster build. Whether Korkmaz stays or goes remains to be seen, and it could shape the free agency philosophy somewhat.