Dario Saric
Status: Active. Can start or come off bench for center, power forward or small forward roles.
Contracted Through: 2020
Current 2016-2017 Salary: $2,318,280
Trade Value: having just arrived, do not expect to see his name in any trade discussions. If he were traded, would expect a top ten pick.
Strengths: Dario Saric is a player who has improved steadily in European play these past two seasons, improving his physical style of play and his perimeter shooting. In fact, it was his play in the Olympics trials that helps lead his team of Croatia over Italy on the road. He not only plays hard, but he has developed a true leadership quality as well.
Offense: He’s solid. He’s nearly as gifted of a passer as Simmons, but he has the benefit of a well-schooled perimeter shot. He also has the ability to position himself to bring down a rebound and hurl the ball coast to coast to set up an easy fast break score.
Defense: His natural position in Turkey’s Anadolu Efes team was power forward. However, he can slide to small forward to help the roster get the most gifted five players onto the floor simultaneously. Should Saric move to the three (or Simmons for that matter), the team may also consider moving Robert Covington to the two spot.
Weaknesses: Saric played in the Euroleague for two seasons, and his skills developed to optimize that team’s roster. As such, he was not given complete autonomy – either offensively or defensively, to truly put himself and his talents to the test.
Offense: Saric has been steadily improving his scoring ability. How much of that ability to score at both the two and three point range has yet to be determined.
Defense: Saric is a physical player who can hold his own against big strong bodies at the post. But he may be called to defend lighter and quicker small forwards in the NBA, a task he has yet to prove he can do.
Probability of 2016-2017 Roster: 100 percent. He fits what Brett Brown wants to do with this team. But where does he fit is yet to be sorted out.
Next: Summary