Furkan Korkmaz has had a breakout season this year for the 76ers, and has played well enough to be a legitimate option for the 76ers to insert into their playoff lineups.
This season, the 6’7” Turkish forward has become a dangerous shooting option on the perimeter, going 5-12 from three in his last game (@ Clippers), and has recorded a positive +/- in eight of his last 11 games.
The 76ers will likely go into the playoffs their starting lineup and Embiid’s backup Dwight Howard ensured the majority of minutes, but it’s purely speculation at this point to predict who else will be a part of their playoff rotation.
Korkmaz has emerged as a solid candidate to crack the rotation as a perimeter threat, but will compete with Matisse Thybulle, Shake Milton, George Hill, Tyrese Maxey, and Mike Scott to play alongside the 76ers core in the playoffs.
In typical playoff lineups however, teams will only play eight core players in their rotations. Although Doc Rivers favors his bench lineup, it’s likely only two or three of the previously mentioned names will get meaningful minutes.
To think of Korkmaz as a playoff contributor would appall 76ers fans of years prior, especially after only two years ago he was demanding a trade away from the city of brotherly love.
In search of a meaningful role, Korkmaz was unable to facilitate and instead entered the open market as a free agent in 2019. After the 2018-19 season, Korkmaz commented on the frustrating year.
Furkan Korkmaz is appreciative of the #Sixers. He called it a “basketball culture.”
He also said he asked for a trade earlier this season, then a lot of other players got dealt. He knows this is an important offseason for him. pic.twitter.com/AKPIEGVn0v
— Dave Uram (@MrUram) May 13, 2019
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Now two years later, Korkmaz remains with the Sixers and has shown flashes of his potential throughout the 2020-21 season and will receive a large free agent market after his contract comes to a close at the end of this year.
Perhaps it would be smart for the 76ers to somehow hide the talents of Korkmaz and leave him out of the playoff rotation.
However, his shooting ability next to Embiid and Simmons may be too valuable entering such an important tournament, and 76ers head coach Doc Rivers will likely give Korkmaz plenty of opportunities to earn his minutes in the playoffs.