The Philadelphia 76ers are currently loaded with frontcourt talent after adding Jahlil Okafor to Nerlens Noel and Joel Embiid, if he ever gets healthy. Next season it appears that they will be getting even more reinforcements in the frontcourt as Dario Saric has said that he is likely going to come to the NBA and play for the Sixers next season, according to SB Nation.
Saric was selected with the 12th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic but was traded to the 76ers, who still have his rights. Their plan all along has been to stash Saric in Europe for at least two years and let him develop before bringing him over and it seems as though that will happen. Saric initially attempted to get out of his deal with his team in Turkey so he could come to the NBA this season but they were reportedly unable to reach a deal, according to Fox Sports.
"Next summer I will, probably, finally go where I want, to the biggest basketball league in the world, NBA. Imperative is to spend another year in Efes, and then is (time for) America. We have tried to do something this year, but since Efes demanded for me to stay as an important player, I was forced to stay. Finally, I see the point in staying," said Saric in a roughly translated statement to a Crotian newspaper.
Saric is a 6 foot-9, 21 year old forward who many people expect to have an impact at the NBA level immediately upon his arrival. Saric played for Croatia in the 2014 World Cup and although his country finished in 10th place he had an impressive tournament averaging 11.7 points and 6.7 rebounds in 26 minutes per game while shooting 50 percent from the field.
Saric spent last season with Anadolu Efes and will have to spend this upcoming season with them as well before coming over to join the 76ers. In 38 games with Efes (28 starts) Saric averaged 10.9 points and 6.7 rebounds in less than 25 minutes per game. Saric has also improved his three point shooting over the years to the point that he should be able to play the stretch four position in the NBA after making 34 percent of his threes a season ago.
