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Can Dario Saric Win A Starting Role?

By Bret Stuter

Jun 24, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers President of Basketball Operations Bryan Colangelo during an introduction press conference at the Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 24, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers President of Basketball Operations Bryan Colangelo during an introduction press conference at the Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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NBA rookie Dario Saric arrived on July 15, 2016. Having arrived this late, can he win a starting role on the Philadelphia 76ers?

Dario Saric is a bit of a celebrity in his home country of Croatia, having just led the Croatian national team to victory on a very difficult road game against Italy to pave the way for the team’s appearance in the 2016 Olympics. Immediately following the game, Saric announced that he would be preparing to join his new Phladelphia 76ers teammates.

From national hero to NBA rookie. Can Dario Saric adjust in time? Can he ride his momentum from overseas into a starting role with the Philadelphia 76ers? Let’s consider what he’s facing:

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He’s an NBA rookie, a player whose status defines the newness of the young man’s situation. While he knows basketball, he does not know NBA, and that is a transition. He is also new to the Philadelphia 76ers organization. He will be playing for new coaches, sleeping in a new bed, eating at new facilities, making new friends, and developing a brand new routine in a brand new time zone.

And he will be trying to earn a starting role on an NBA team.  Quite a busy schedule, and this is just the slow part of the season.

But Dario Saric is not a high risk prospect.  He was selected in the 2014 NBA draft and ended up with the Philadelphia 76ers due to some shrewd dealings of Sam Hinkie.  This year, he arrives to the NBA, having developed and perfected some NBA skills, while still developing in other areas.

In fact, Dario Saric is somewhat unique due to his circumstances.  He is arriving to the 76ers on the cusp of his last rookie season contract, a decision which leaves a great deal of money on the table.  But this is the culmination of a family dream, and money is a distant second on the priority scale when compared to that legacy.  But he is coming to the 76ers at 22 years of age.  That places him two years older than Jahlil Okafor, on par with Nerlens Noel and Joel Embiid, and two years younger than T.J. McConnell.

Dario Saric is another “versatile” NBA player.  While his natural position is power forward, he has played center, power forward, and small forward.  I’ve even read several scouting reports which indicate his skill set could be used in the shooting guard or point guard roles as well.    That’s a spectrum of skills.    That’s hard to plot on the current roster.   But his presence brings a great deal more to the team than just a player at a position.

Starting in the NBA will be require a blend of skills with a blend of opportunities.  We know that the team will prioritize Ben Simmons as a starter, and will likely try very hard to work Joel Embiid into a part time starting alternate at center.  Saric’s flexibility could work to his advantage if the team slides him to the small forward role.  From there, he could be aligned with Jahlil Okafor, Joel Embiid, Robert Covington and Simmons to become one of the tallest lineups in the NBA, a true “tall ball” squad.

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With so many moving and new parts, we anticipated the roster challenges, and offered up alternatives as to how to get Simmons Embiid and Saric on the court at the same time.  In the tend, will the team give the start to Dario Saric?  Perhaps not 82 starts, but often enough to measure how well he will handle the pressure of starting going forward.  And going forward, that’s the best any player can hope for now.