The Sixer Sense
Fansided

Ben Simmons May Complicate Dario Saric’s 2016 Debut

By Bret Stuter

Mar 12, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; LSU Tigers forward Ben Simmons (25) dribbles the ball in the first half against the Texas A&M Aggies during the SEC conference tournament at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 12, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; LSU Tigers forward Ben Simmons (25) dribbles the ball in the first half against the Texas A&M Aggies during the SEC conference tournament at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 5
Next
Mar 21, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Philadelphia 76ers coach Brett Brown watches game action against the Indiana Pacers during the first half at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 21, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Philadelphia 76ers coach Brett Brown watches game action against the Indiana Pacers during the first half at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

The Sell

That’s why the trip to Istanbul to speak with Dario Saric includes both Bryan Colangelo and Brett Brown.  Each must play a role in the pitch.  Each must bare the plan to the young man who continues to improve through his play with Turkish Basketball Super League affiliate Anadolu Efes.  In fact, Saric recently compiled a 10-game stretch during which he averaged 15.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 26.0 minutes, while shooting 51.5 percent (50-97) from the field.  That’s what he brings to the Philadelphia 76ers.

"“He so much wants to be a part of the 76ers organization when we speak,” Brown said.  “I ended up sending him a photo of a young kid in the stands with a Saric jersey on, and the response is like what it is, ‘I can’t wait to get [to Philadelphia].’”"

Brown will do his part. In the midst of bad basketball, he single-handedly bolstered the perspective of an entire team, rallying their performance to wade back out onto the court and give their all.  In a season where it was easy to lose the players’ spirits as easily as it was to lose basketball games, Brown did neither.   It’s that infectious optimism that has likely kept Saric eager to join Philadelphia this entire time.

Bryan Colangelo is the variable now.  He will need to hire a professional speaking coach if his pitch to Dario Saric is at the same level as the speaks he has given to Philadelphia media recently.  The repetitive message of too many young players is a canned speech, one that doesn’t work in a blue collar market like Philadelphia.

There was no honeymoon phase here to give Colangelo time to say just about anything to oohs and ahhs of a crowd.   He’s been touted as a basketball mind, so the fans’ appetite for basketball related insight has gone unsatisfied so far.  He will suffer the same challenge if he wants to smile and cite cliches in Turkey as well.

"“I think what Brett and I are planning to do is taking a trip over to Istanbul here shortly. We’re going to sit down with him, we’re going to sit down with perhaps members of his family, his agent.  We’re going to talk about all the alternatives, and why we think it’s a good time for him to come over right now.  I think this is a great opportunity for him.  We think this is good timing for him.” -Bryan Colangelo discussing a planned trip to meet with Dario Saric"

Colangelo should be well coached for this first time visit in order to prevent this from being the only time the group meets.  The sales pitch of the younger Colangelo should come from his wheel house, from the relationships that an NBA team forges together as a family.

Colangelo must pretend he is pitching the team to an NBA veteran, and not to one of the rookies he is so eager to move away from.  In many ways, Saric’s European experience will deliver a pretty mature individual to Phialdelphia.

Next: Summary