Former Sixers veteran reportedly ‘close’ to finding new team

Former Philadelphia 76ers veteran Furkan Korkmaz has been a free agent for months.

It looks like he could find a new team soon. According to Failed diceKorkmaz is “very close” to signing a deal with a Euroleague team in Monaco.

If Korkmaz does indeed ink a deal in Monaco, it will be the first time he has played outside the NBA since 2017.

When Korkmaz joined the Sixers, he was the 26th overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft. At the time, he was a standout for the Turkish league’s Anadolu Efes.

In his first season with the Sixers, Korkmaz played in 14 games. He was not a rotation player until his sophomore season in 2018-19.

During his second season in the NBA, Korkmaz averaged 14 minutes off the bench in 48 games, producing six points per game and shooting 33 percent from behind the three-point line.

In the 2019-20 season, Korkmaz played 72 games on the court for the Sixers, a personal best. That season was his most impactful in the NBA, as he averaged ten points on 40 percent shooting from long range. After another 55 games in 2021, Korkmaz re-signed with the Sixers on a three-year contract.

Despite returning with a new deal, Korkmaz’s role began to diminish over time, appearing in just 37 games, averaging less than ten minutes during the 2022-23 season. Though he requested a trade before the deadline, the Sixers were unable to find a deal worth pursuing.

Last season, Korkmaz was looking to play out the final year of his contract under new head coach Nick Nurse. Even with Nurse at the helm, Korkmaz struggled to find consistent playing time. Korkmaz appeared in 35 games and averaged eight minutes on the court.

At the 2024 trade deadline, the Sixers acquired Korkmaz in a three-team trade with the Indiana Pacers and San Antonio Spurs. Although Korkmaz was sent to the Indiana Pacers, he was released shortly thereafter.

Korkmaz had planned to continue searching for a home in the NBA. He didn’t find one before the end of the 2023-24 regular season. With free agency opening in the last few weeks, Korkmaz still doesn’t have a contract with an NBA team. It looks like the Turkish sharpshooter will get another chance in Europe.

The NBA veteran has played in 328 regular-season games. He averaged seven points and two rebounds and made 36 percent of his three-pointers. While his playoff experience has been limited, Korkmaz has made 33 postseason appearances. He has made 31 percent of his three-pointers and scored four points per game over a six-playoff run.

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