Dario Saric, the NBA’s 12th overall pick in 2014, has spent the last two seasons playing in Croatia. But he may soon be coming to a team near you—insofar as you’re within reasonable proximity of the Philadelphia 76ers.
From Keith Pompey of philly.com:
A Croatian newspaper reported that Saric, a Croatia native, said he’ll play for the 76ers in the 2016-17 season. A European reporter added that the 6-foot-10 forward said the same thing to his teammates on Anadolu Efes of the Turkish Basketball League.
“I don’t want to go on hearsay and what might have been said by him or what his friends are telling people he’s telling them,” said Colangelo, who was named the Sixers’ president of basketball operations in April. “I’d rather speak to the individual.”
That’s why he and Sixers coach Brett Brown are figuring out a time in the next few weeks to fly to Turkey to meet with Saric.
Sixers fans are no doubt anxious to see if one of former general manager Sam Hinkie’s draft-day gambles will pay huge dividends. That both Joel Embiid and Dario Saric could be making their debuts next season is liable to incite excessive amounts of anticipation and anxiety.
But those same fans should also be concerned about the upcoming NBA draft, and what will happen if the Sixers win the lottery. That’s typically a good thing, and, well, it’s not a bad thing here. But if the Sixers earn the No. 1 overall pick, will they be compelled to draft Duke’s Brandon Ingram, who fills an actual need, or will they once again go with the consensus best player available in LSU’s Ben Simmons, who only adds to the frontcourt logjam?
Embiid, Nerlens Noel and Jahlil Okafor are all best suited at center. Keeping all three of them forces Saric to spend ample time at the 3. And drafting Simmons would force both the incoming rookies, Saric and Simmons himself, to play small forward, when each is better off at power forward.
These are pivotal times in Philly, especially now that Hinkie’s gone, and the franchise’s immediate direction, as it pertains to the draft and free agency, is less clear. Saric’s imminent arrival is part of that mercurial outlook. The Sixers can only hope that he pays off in some way, either as trade bait or a potential building block.
