Does Dario Saric Wanna Play for the Sixers Now?

Turns out the Sixers wanted 2014 draft pick Dario Saric to play for the Sixers this year and Saric wanted to play for the Sixers.

According to Dave Pick over at BasketballInsiders.com, Saric told people he wanted to play for Philadelphia now, but couldn’t because his contract had no out-clause.

"The fact is, he really wanted to be there next season," Pick told me on the Sports Bash.  "He feels like he's ready, he feels he's proved enough in the EuroLeague, which is considered the best league outside the NBA."

(Listen to Dave Pick from Basketball Insiders discuss Dario Saric)

The No. 12 overall pick in the 2014 draft doesn’t have a way to escape his contract with Turkey’s Anadolu Efes until next year, but from the sounds of it feels like he is ready to play in the NBA now.

"I think I’m ready to compete in the NBA, against the best players," Saric told Pick in the article.  "But we built a great team in Efes and I want to help the club win a championship.”

The 21-year-old Croatian averaged 9.9 points adding 6.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists - over 27 games in the Euroleague this past season.

"He wants to be there (Philadelphia), he feels he can compete against them (NBA players), Pick said.  "It really came across that if it were up to him and the team, if there wasn't the buyout obstacle, there's no question he would have been in the NBA this season."

So what kind of player is Saric and how will ge fit in with the Sixers plethora of big mean?

"He's a point-four with a insane motor," Pick said.  Dario over here is a three/four, but in the NBA he can't play the four, he's too small."

Saric is a 6'-10" forward with plenty of potential, being named FIBA Europe Young Men's Player of the Year for 2014, Saric offered nice upside as a scorer, but he'll have to continue to develop his game in Turkey.

"He's a pure three in the NBA," Pick stated.  "He's not a lights out shooter, his shooting is shady, and in the NBA where the three-point line is even further, I think he'll have some struggles.  But he has a really good work ethic, he's willing to put in the work.  He's a definite three in the NBA, he'll have a lot of problems at the four, but when Brett Brown came over after the NBA season to watch him, he had 15 rebounds."

Brown would love to see Saric playing with the Sixers this season, but that simply isn't going to happen.  However, there are some people who think Saric might not come to Philly after next season either.

"It came across in our conversation that there is a serious kid, serious about what he wants to do and he wanted to play for Philadelphia.  I think he is definitely ready to play in the NBA."

Sixers fans are ready to have him.