If the Philadelphia 76ers opt to give Markelle Fultz the starting gig, it would be wise to bring Dario Saric off the bench.
The future of the Philadelphia 76ers is incredibly bright, and they are set to improve on an exceptional 2017-2018 NBA season. The Sixers are in a great position: the core of Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz is intact and each player has worked incredibly hard this offseason at perfecting his craft.
Brett Brown recently stated that he expects Simmons and Fultz to share the floor at certain times of the game. Many believe that Fultz will be named as a starter before all is said and done this season if he has improved on his perimeter game.
Simmons, Embiid and Robert Covington are clear-cut starters, so if Fultz develops at a high, either Dario Saric or J.J. Redick will need to join the reserves. It’s with this caveat in mind that I suggest Saric should come off the bench.
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This is not to suggest that Redick is a better player than Saric. Rather, Redick is a more important part of the Sixer’s starting unit. Redick’s presence helps afford them the opportunity to play at such a fast pace, and the spacing he provides on the perimeter takes some of the pressure off the shoulders of Embiid and Simmons from an offensive standpoint. Saric is an improved three-point shooter, but he’s simply not the outside threat that Redick is.
With that said, let’s dive into three reasons why Saric is better served off the bench if Fultz is named a starter.
1. He provides much-needed depth
The thing that makes the Sixers so intriguing is that of their starting unit —two generational talents in Embiid and Simmons as well as excellent complementary pieces in Redick, Covington and Saric. However, the depth chart gets thinner once you look at the bench.
The Sixers have several serviceable role players (e.g. T.J. McConnell and Wilson Chandler), but also a few young players new to the league lacking in experience.
That’s where Saric comes in. Last season, he boasted averages of 14.6 points per game, 6.7 rebounds per game while shooting an incredible 39.3 percent from the perimeter. However, it’s clear that Saric still hasn’t reached his potential.
Many believe that Saric’s full potential won’t be unlocked on the Sixers because of the two legendary pieces that the team has in Embiid and Simmons — let alone the high ceiling that Fultz possesses. But, he’ll have a lot more freedom to showcase what he can do coming off the bench because he’d clearly be the best player in that role.
I understand the argument that he’s struggled in the past in this role, but that’s mainly a confidence issue that is fixable as time goes on. He’ll continue to grow in that area and could thrive in a reserve role.
2. He will increasingly showcase his playmaking ability
Prior to officially joining the Sixers in 2016, Saric was lauded for his playmaking ability overseas. He’s shown flashes of this skill throughout his tenure, but that duty has fallen mainly on the shoulders of Simmons in the starting unit. Coming off the bench would enable Saric to utilize this unique skill set more.
While it’s clear that McConnell will continue to set up his teammates as a playmaker, that doesn’t mean that there won’t be opportunities for Saric. They’ll certainly be able to share that responsibility, which will enable the second unit to function at a higher level and keep opposing defenses guessing.
3. He can compete for Sixth Man of the Year
Saric will be in prime position to compete for the 2018-2019 Sixth Man of the Year Award. Being an NBA All-Star isn’t the only achievement award that players vie for. In fact, a talented, reliable sixth man is what most teams with championship aspirations are desperate for.
Saric fits the mold of a talented, reliable and selfless player who is willing to do anything it takes to succeed at the highest level. He can bring a much-needed spark off the bench in regard to scoring, rebounding, playmaking and hustling. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a player with such unique qualities coming off the bench throughout the NBA landscape.
Saric is an excellent player and a great competitor; opposing coaches and players will fear him in the second unit.