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.