It’s Furkan Happening: Sixers to sign 2016 first-round pick Furkan Korkmaz

Furkan Korkmaz will be joining the Philadelphia 76ers this upcoming season, according to his agent Misko Raznatovic.

A rough translation of the tweet says that Sixers fans now have more reason to drink Turkish beer, alluding to Korkmaz, a native of Istanbul.

The 19-year-old guard had visited the Sixers over the course of several days back in the beginning of June to meet the coaches, and discuss his future with the team’s brass. After the draft, head coach Brett Brown confirmed there was a “strong chance” Korkmaz would join the team this upcoming season, citing that he really wanted to join the team.

Korkmaz spent the majority of last season with Turkish club Banvit after being loaned out by Anadolu Efes. While with Banvit, Korkmaz averaged 10.7 points and 3.8 rebounds while shooting 48.8 percent from the field and 39.8 percent from three. He also helped them win the Turkish Cup in February, the first trophy in team history, and made it to the first ever Basketball Champions League final before losing to Spanish side Iberostar Tenerife. However, the BCL awarded him Best Young Player in the league.

Korkmaz, the 26th pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, will be obligated to sign a rookie scale contract. We discussed what the terms would look like in May:

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.

Korkmaz’s buyout with Anadolu Efes was for a reported $2 million. The NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement states NBA teams are only allowed to pay $675,000 of a player’s buyout, meaning Korkmaz will be on the hook for the remaining amount. He’ll be allowed to pay that off in installments.

The Turkish teen now adds to the Sixers abundance of shooting guards. Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, Nik Stauskas are the team’s only true two guards, but Markelle Fultz and Jerryd Bayless are expected to play off-ball in some situations as well. Korkmaz’s addition should practically confirm the departure of Gerald Henderson, whose $9 million salary is guaranteed after June 30th.

At this point, it’s expected that Korkmaz will join the team for at least some portion of summer league action. The Sixers’ first Utah Summer League game will be July 3. They’ll play three games in Salt Lake City before departing for Las Vegas, where their first game in the Sin City will be on July 8.

Expect Korkmaz to make his first appearance in a Sixers uniform at some point in the very near future.