.png){kind=small}
NYK receives: Furkan Korkmaz PHI receives: Noah Vonleh
Furkan Korkmaz isn’t a wanted player in Philadelphia. He’s had some good moments this season, yet if the Sixers front office truly wanted him they would have exercised the third year option on his contract before the 2018-19 campaign begun. Alongside Landry Shamet and J.J. Redick, he’s been their most consistent three-point threat. Simply put, G.M. Elton Brand and coach Brett Brown don’t think the 21-year old provides enough to the team to keep him around or play him extended minutes.
A player Philadelphia would surely find court time for is New York’s Noah Vonleh. The Sixers have a dire need for depth in their front court as they continue to hand out minutes to lesser likes such as Jonah Bolden and Mike Muscala. That’s not to say Bolden and Muscala aren’t serviceable, though in scaled back roles they’d be even more effective.
Vonleh would be an immediate upgrade on what those two provide as a defender and outside shooter. The 23-year old is having a career season, revitalising his career in New York as a 3-and-D big man. Thanks to his resurgent form David Fizdale has even gifted the youngster the occasional starting role.
At the Knicks Korkmaz could provide some value as an outside shooter they sorely lack and an opportunity to further their chances at securing the rights to Zion Williamson.
It’s not a transaction that moves the needle greatly, but in a clustered Eastern Conference playoff race at the top, any little advantage matters.