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Free agent froward Furkan Korkmaz has agreed to a two-year deal to return to the Philadelphia 76ers, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. His deal will be for the minimum of $1.6 million for a third-year player, one that is fully guaranteed while the second will come with a July 10, 2020 trigger date before it becomes guaranteed, according to Serena Winters of NBC Sports Philadelphia.
Korkmaz, a 21-year-old shooting guard, carved a more prominent role with the team after playing only scrap minutes in his first season, though still featuring as a third-stringer in Brett Brown's system.
Drafted 26th overall in the 2016 NBA Draft, Korkmaz has been a project the Sixers have developed over the years and one they viewed as a good option to retain after turning down his third-year option last season.
The 6-foot-7 wing averaged 5.8 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in his second year with the team, but he could once again be bound to a deep bench role with Josh Richardson as the starter and Zhaire Smith as his immediate backup.
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Keeping Korkmaz was a cheaper-end option to retain familiar talent instead of spending potentially more than $2 million in a free agent veteran. The Sixers reportedly had their eyes on sharpshooter Kyle Korver, but he wound up signing with the Milwaukee Bucks recently due to his familiarity with former Atlanta Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer and his offensive system.
The young guard would have made $2.03 million under his team option, but the Sixers saved roughly $400,000 by renouncing him and re-signing him as a free agent.
Furkan Korkmaz will make $1.6 million this season. He would have made around $2.03 million had the #Sixers picked up his third-year option back in October.
— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) July 24, 2019
Korkmaz could carve himself a place in the rotation in case of an injury or a sudden move due to inconsistencies. If he can progress as a perimeter shooter, there will surely be some minutes for him down the line.
