Furkan Korkmaz is averaging 10.2 points per game for the Philadelphia 76ers this season, a career-high one year into his brand new 3 year, 15 million dollar contract. Korkmaz provides three-point shooting and depth for a 76ers team that has always been desperate for both.
Shooting is always at a premium in this league. For example, look at a player like Joe Harris on the Brooklyn Nets, who is averaging only slightly more points per game at 11.3, at an inflated rate of over 17 million dollars this year alone. We can also look at Duncan Robinson of the Miami Heat, who’s pulling in above $15M for a measly 11.0 points per game.
When looking at players such as that, it’s easy to see who Furkan could have had his contract turn into one of these book breakers while underperforming on such a large contract. However, Korkmaz decided to resign with the 76ers on an extremely team-friendly deal for 3 years and $15M.
This clocks Furkan Korkmaz in as the 219th highest-paid player in the league, putting him behind players like Cory Joseph of the Detroit Pistons, Kevin Knox of the New York Knicks, Maxi Kleber of the Dallas Mavericks, and Al-Farouq Aminu of the San Antonio Spurs.
Furkan Korkmaz may not be the most consistent player, but for a guy who specializes in the most valuable thing a player can do for a team (three-point shooting) and for a player in a league that loves to overpay based on potential (he’s only 24 and has improved every season he’s been in the league), the Sixers and President Daryl Morey were very lucky to secure the services of Furkan at such a steal.
With an average salary of 5 million dollars over the next 3 years, Furkan Korkmaz is assuredly the best non-rookie contract on the 76ers right now, but he very well may be the best contract in the entire league, rookie excluded.
There are a few competitors for that title, including some 76ers themselves. This includes players like Andre Drummond and Bobby Portis, and while both bring a high level of energy to their respective squads, and both make less than Furkan, their relatively limited ability and size keep Furkan ahead of them. Drummond’s contract is for only one year, which damages the value of it as well.
Georges Niang is another viable contender for the best contract in the league, but like Drummond, his contract is shorter at only 2 years, and while his production has been fantastic for Philadelphia, he is also limited in where he can play.
Korkmaz can play shooting guard and small forward and has shown a willingness to pass that could allow him to run an offense as the point guard for short stints at a time. His willingness to play defense and grow and improve in that part of his game has also bumped up his value considerably.
His commitment to improvement and his improving ability and skill at such a level has led Korkmaz from a guy barely making the team to an important and trusted rotation piece for a team with championship aspirations. His leadership has been unreal this season, and the way he operates is nothing less than professional. The 76ers have the best contract in the entire league in Furkan Korkmaz, and as the years go by, it will only look better.
