The Philadelphia 76ers are expected to have Dario Saric join the team this summer. Saric, the 6-foot-10 forward out of Croatia, was drafted by the Sixers in 2014 but is still under contract with Anadolus Efes until the end of this season.
Saric has been expected to opt out of his contract and join the Sixers this summer, and head coach Brett Brown is still confident in that timetable.
“Obviously, decisions are going to have to be made on his part, but we like what we see and we believe he likes what he sees,” Brown, who described his opinion as a “gut feel,” said before the Sixers’ game against the Heat.
Player development assistant Chris Babcock traveled to Europe to spend time with Saric and monitor his workouts. […]
“[He is a] competitive bull-in-a-china-shop player,” Brown said. “I think the city of Philadelphia is just going to love the physicality of him. I think we all have to be reminded he hasn’t played a second of NBA basketball, as good as I think he might be. But nobody’s ever going to question his heart or his toughness.
“He just comes with a size and a skill package at that big of a position. He could play three-four, four-three, whatever. He can dribble, he can pass, he’s working on his shot. We feel like he’s getting better. That was the report that came back two hours ago.”
Saric’s father confirmed a few months ago that his son would be with the Sixers next season. The upside for Saric — he’s had time to develop overseas and turns 22 this April. He brings experience and a versatile skill set as a forward that gives the Sixers more playmaking. The next phase of the process in Philly will be Saric coming over and landing another lottery draft pick in June.
