Croatian forward Dario Saric, who was expected to be a lottery pick in Thursday’s NBA Draft, won’t be coming to the United States to play in the NBA just yet. Saric has reportedly agreed to a three-year deal with Turkish team Anadolu Efes of the Euroleague, just three days before the NBA draft.
The deal, which has a player option for the third year, will prohibit Saric from playing for an NBA team for at least two more seasons.
Dario Saric Profile
Dario Saric has spent the last two years playing for the Croatia-based club Cibona, and was named MVP of the Adriatic league after averaging 19.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game last season. Measuring at 6’10” and weighing 225 pounds, he is an intriguing prospect due to his excellent ball-handling and passing skills, rare for a player of his size.
Impact on Saric’s Draft Stock
As we head towards the draft, Dario Saric was expected to be a late-lottery selection, with teams such as the Philadelphia 76ers (No. 10), Denver Nuggets (No. 11), and Orlando Magic all reportedly interested in the big man. With this news however, he is very likely to fall down the board on draft night, with several teams possibly willing to take a chance on him with later picks, such as the Atlanta Hawks at 15, the Boston Celtics at 17, the Phoenix Suns at 18, and the Chicago Bulls at 19. It will need to be a team willing to wait for Saric, but given his talent, he might just be worth the wait.
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