The Philadelphia 76ers have seen new stars arise within their roster so far this season, which has left Furkan Korkmaz on the back burner. Is it time for him and the team to part ways?
The Philadelphia 76ers may need to make another trade happen soon, mostly at the request of Furkan Korkmaz.
According to Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer, the organization recently declined the Turkish shooting guard’s third-year option for next season, meaning that he will be free to sign elsewhere in the 2019 offseason.
The Sixers have cleared $2 million in cap space with this move and currently have a 2019 cap max of $109 million, per Spotrac. This bundle will likely be used on Star Search: Part II this summer, once the team secures a Jimmy Butler extension after the season.
As for Korkmaz, who has done what he can with his minuscule usage so far in 2018-19, it’s time for a better opportunity.
Since the Butler trade, however, Korkmaz has seen a slight bump in minutes. He’s played at least 16 minutes per game over the last three matchups — but if he’s looking for more, it’s possible that he’s in the wrong locker room.
Judging by the patience of Brett Brown and the organization with Markelle Fultz, it may be time for the Sixers to strike up a deal with another team that is in the market for a young guard/wing.
Korkmaz, who oddly has spent 70 percent of his time on the floor this year at small forward, could be a great complementary fit on a team that needs a wing or even an off-the-bench shooting guard at times.
What the Sixers need in return that another team could offer, is a two-way veteran wing or even a stretch-4 to better cope with the losses of Dario Saric and Robert Covington.
They are currently 16th in the league in bench scoring with 37.4 points per game — clearly being one of the main causes for their late-game collapses.
How long are the Sixers going to be able to survive while they continue to surrender leads down the stretch? Something that is surely going to play a factor come playoff time.
In what was expected to be a breakout year for Korkmaz, has turned into a meandering one.
He is averaging just 10.1 minutes per night in the first 17 games for the Sixers, while his plus-minus per 100 possessions on the court has been a 4.8.
It’s clear by now that the 21-year-old Turk wants and deserves more usage, but is it even a possibility on a Philly roster with a glut of young guard assets?
Brown isn’t losing faith in the talent he and the organization have acquired through the NBA Draft, but while he has an Eastern Conference powerhouse of a roster, there are other teams around the league that are desperate to find a new identity — the inferior New York Knicks for example.
The Sixers are looking for shooters, particularly in the forward category.
One option could be to inquire about Philly native Markieff Morris from the Washington Wizards.
Another is with the Cleveland Cavaliers, who aren’t the East juggernaut they’ve been in the previous four years, and are clearly looking for a rebuild.
Despite all of the hubbub around Fultz and his recurring struggles, it just wouldn’t be sensible to package him in a trade while his value is arguably at an all-time low — which makes players like Korkmaz, T.J. McConnell, Zhaire Smith and even Jonah Bolden the more luring targets.
McConnell is a player who has sparked the Cavs’ interest once before.
Whether that feeling has changed or not, who knows?
But McConnell is an experienced point guard, who could play a vital role on a team pushing to rebuild the pieces left by LeBron James‘ departure.
As for Korkmaz, he would have an opportunity to coexist with fellow Turkish national team member Cedi Osman, who’s off to a decent start with the Cavs this year.
An additional draft pick could be enough to get the Cavs to bite on delivering Kyle Korver back to where his flourishing 16-year career started — in the City of Brotherly Love.