Furkan Korkmaz reportedly wants to join the Philadelphia 76ers in 2017-18

Furkan Korkmaz is one of just two Sixers players still stashed overseas, but a report from the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Keith Pompey states that the 19-year-old would like to change that.

From Pompey:

Sixers draft pick Furkan Korkmaz wants out of Europe and in a Philly uniform next season, sources said.

However, the shooting guard has two seasons remaining on his contract with Turkish team Anadolu Efes. Korkmaz has a complicated buyout that could prohibit from him to achieving his goal, according to sources.

Korkmaz is currently playing in the Turkish Basketball League for Banvit BK, who just recently wrapped up their international play in the Basketball Champions League.

During a recent trip through Europe to do some scouting, Sixers general manager Bryan Colangelo and vice president of player personnel Marc Eversley watched Korkmaz as he dropped 13 points in a win against AS Monaco in the BCL semifinals. Banvit would fall in the BCL championship game to Spanish side Iberostar Tenerife, and Korkmaz was held to just four points on 2-7 shooting.

Korkmaz’s contract is still owned by Anadolu Efes; in Europe basketball players can be loaned out just like its soccer. But he played sparingly for the Euroleague powerhouse earlier this year, and doesn’t seem too keen on returning next year.

The Sixers would have to buy Korkmaz out of his contract with Efes like they did with Dario Saric last year, and while Pompey notes his buyout is complicated, we’ve heard it’s not nearly as high as the $2 million figure that’s been reported in the past. According to the NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement, the Sixers can only pay up to $675,000 of his buyout. The rest would have to come from Korkmaz. Draft picks can sign up for up to 120% of the rookie scale, which is one way Korkmaz could recoup that money.

If Korkmaz was to sign with the Sixers, he would be required to sign a rookie scale contract that coincides with the 26th pick in last year’s draft. A four-year deal for Korkmaz would be worth $5,234,516, according to RealGM’s rookie scale numbers. Year three ($1,118,700) and four ($2,017,016) would both be team options.

While he seems eager to put on a Sixers uniform, it might be best for Korkmaz to spend one more season over there. As Wesley Share indicated in his scouting report on Korkmaz, he’s still remarkably skinny, and needs to add some weight to excel at the NBA level.

Philadelphia already has a ton of guards on the roster, and are likely to add more between their possible two first-round picks and their four second-round picks.

One last year across the pond could be what’s best for both sides.