NBA Draft 2016: 5 players the Utah Jazz need to target
By Brad Weiss
2. Furkan Korkmaz, G, Turkey
Korkmaz is the quintessential draft-and-stash player, and could be a huge selection if he is still available at number 12. He can do a little bit of everything, and has played against pros during his time in the Euroleague, and in the Turkish Basketball Super League. He has reminded scouts of a young Marco Belinelli, and he should develop into a solid NBA player with some seasoning.
The 6’7” swingman from Turkey would be considered a long-term investment because he has not gotten a ton of playing time recently. Still, he has good size and speed to compete at the next level and has a solid basketball IQ. Although people are in love with his shooting touch, Korkmaz also has incredible leaping ability, winning the BSL Slam Dunk Competition.
At the NBA level, Korkmaz is going to have to work on his defense, which will come with more playing time. He can seem disengaged on the defensive end when he is not on the ball, and some feel he currently is too skinny to make a difference on the defense. However, he will be able to overcome that with the right coaching staff and opportunity.
The Jazz could take a chance on Korkmaz at number 12, and give the youngster a chance to groom into someone who plays big minutes for the team. It will not be right away, but he could have a huge impact on the organization going forward.
Next: No. 1 Denzel Valentine