The Philadelphia 76ers landed power forward Dario Saric in the 2014 NBA Draft. And his only redeeming NBA quality that stands out? He steps up
When the Philadelphia 76ers traded Elfrid Payton to the Orlando Magic for the rights to a Croatian power forward by the name of Dario Saric, many assumed it was merely a play to get a debt of a first round draft pick off the books.
Initial reports on the young Croatian were promising, but not overwhelming. Good size and physicality. Good handles on ball. Good IQ. Not the strongest, fastest, quickest nor most accurate on the court. Solid role player.
Nick Gibson of SheridanHoops.com took it one step further:
"“Saric is as fierce and persistent competitor as you’ll find…he’ll never be an NBA-level athlete. This much is clear when you see Dario try and finish around the rim, or (fail to) elevate for a block or rebound. He’s got no lift, no bounce, and limited quickness. An NBA weight program will definitely be more sophisticated than what he’s used to in Europe and will likely lead to marginal improvements in explosiveness, but he still won’t be all that explosive. NBA strength coaches are generally good at their jobs, but they can’t turn Luis Scola into Blake Griffin."
And in the face of these heartbreaking assessments, the Philadelphia 76ers fans waited, and trusted, patiently.
But he stepped up for Anadolu Efes. He stepped up for the Croatian National Team in the 2016 Olympics. When his team needed him most, he was there. Now he is a Philadelphia 76er.