How Good Will Dario Saric Be?

[BleedGreen1989]

6'10
223
6'10 Wingspan

April 29, 2014
Dario Saric led his Cibona team to a historic Adriatic League Championship this past weekend, with wins over Red Star and Cedevita at Kombank arena in Belgrade. This was the first Adriatic League championship Cibona has ever won despite being inaugural members of the competition in 2001, and the first time a Croatian team has captured the title since KK Zadar won it in 2003 (back when only one Serbian team, Red Star, participated).

Saric, the reigning MVP of the league, who turned 20 years old just three weeks ago, was absolutely huge in the two game, single-elimination Final Four format, totaling 44 points, 26 rebounds, 13 assists and 5 blocks in 77 minutes, shooting a blistering 8-16 from beyond the arc. He was in turn named MVP of the Final Four as well.

 
 His comments after the game were telling.

?Before the game, I said that we will come here like Olympiacos did as underdogs and became Euroleague champions. You can say that I was born as a winner, but I believe that you are producing a winning mentality on your own. In my case when I was 12, I got this spirit and I believe that I will win each game.

In three to four weeks approximately, I will know where I will play next. Whatever I decide, the NBA will always be my dream. All guys who are in this draft this year, Parker, Wiggins, etc, would not be able to do with this team, what I did this season.?
 

A little scouting from our own here at CB,

As a passer, Saric made some exceptional plays over the weekend. His court vision is outstanding, and he also has the technical ability to pass equally well off the dribble or catch. Despite standing at 6-foot-10, Saric passes and reads the floor like a point guard, which will be a valuable to skill to have in the NBA, where he won't be able to score at will like he can in Europe.

Saric is definitely a better defender than I originally gave him credit for, but it's still difficult to project his position in the NBA. Since he lacks potential as a pick-and-roll rim protector due to his lack of length and size, I'm led to believe that he should defend the three.

Even though Saric's poor lateral quickness may be problematic, this role will highlight is intelligent instincts as a "shower" on the pick-and-roll, and he'll be in a better position for more weakside blocks. No matter where he plays, he may struggle individually as a defender, but the team defense may be better off with him as a three, as it emphasizes his strengths.

I would imagine that Danny Ainge is extremely high on Dario Saric. As Ainge looks for players to plug into his "championship formula," Saric may be a fit since he can run a team similarly to Paul Pierce as a point forward who passes, rebounds, and scores.

If the Celtics get unlucky in the lottery and slide back, would you consider Saric?

[Birdman]

50/50 on this guy..if he is there at 17, yes but doubt it..he be gone 11-16

[D.o.s.]

Sure.

Did he ever end up officially declaring for the draft?

[Lucky17]

Draft express currently has him at #8 overall. I think he's probably in the mix for Ainge's early 1st.

[BleedGreen1989]

Sure.

Did he ever end up officially declaring for the draft?

After months of conflicting reports, Croatian forward Dario Saric declared for the NBA draft on Saturday.


Saric?s agent Misko Raznatovic made the announcement in a Twitter message: ?Dario Saric, officially, declared himself for draft 2014.?

[Mr October]

Draft express currently has him at #8 overall. I think he's probably in the mix for Ainge's early 1st.

Ever since his dominant final four performance, i have begun to wonder if he becomes Ainge's guy with the 6th pick.

The guy just looks like an excellent all around basketball player, with a piece of everything. He is part Toni Kukoc, part Detlef Schrempf, part Cliff Robinson, part Nic Batum.

He could very well be the 4th best player in the draft. It is hard to tell by just watching limited clips.

He certainly will be gone well before the 17th pick.

[Quetzalcoatl]

I would take him 7th or 8th after Randle/Vonleh/Smart, even if he doesn't come for a year or two

[Celtics18]

I am absolutely enthralled by the highlight videos.  Unfortunately, he's another one who's not supposed to be much of a shooter. 

[sofutomygaha]

If his shooting gets more consistent, he really seems like he has Hedo Turkoglu's body and game (and I do mean that in a good way. Turkoglu used to be a nice player).

I had had higher hopes for our first pick, but Saric looks to me like in a few years he could be doing 15-5-5 per 36 in NBA. He's certainly worth pick 17 and 1-2 year wait.

I don't think that his offense is going to have a higher impact in the NBA than Aaron Gordon's defense and athleticism, though. I really do think Gerald Wallace is an excellent comp for Gordon; Turkoglu and Gerald Wallace came into the league at about the same time and there hasn't been any season I'd have preferred to have Turkoglu on my team.

[sofutomygaha]

As an aside, I'm all for confidence but he kind of sounds like a jerk.

Jabari Parker would have torn the Adriatic League to ruins (get it? ruins? because GREECE).

In three to four weeks approximately, I will know where I will play next. Whatever I decide, the NBA will always be my dream. All guys who are in this draft this year, Parker, Wiggins, etc, would not be able to do with this team, what I did this season.

[Celtics18]

Whoa!!

Apparently he shot 8 for 16 from beyond the arc in the two final four games of the Adriatic League, leading his team to winning the tournament.

I hope he's still around at 5 or 6.

Take the leap, Danny, take the leap. 

And, yeah, I doubt Parker or Wiggins could have done what he did this past season.  I like the cockiness. 

[D.o.s.]

Sure.

Did he ever end up officially declaring for the draft?

After months of conflicting reports, Croatian forward Dario Saric declared for the NBA draft on Saturday.


Saric?s agent Misko Raznatovic made the announcement in a Twitter message: ?Dario Saric, officially, declared himself for draft 2014.?

TP

[CFAN38]

The more I read about and see game film of Saric the more I like. His comments about Parker and Wiggins not being able to match his season intrigues me. Confidence coupled with production is what you want out of a prospect.

Im terms of comparing him I see alot of Mike Dunleavy at a similar age. Now its debatable how the leagues compare and I would say the Adriatic is a step above the acc as a whole but Sarics stats this year vs Dunleavy as a freshman are very similar. I think Saric will be a better rebounder then Dunleavy and have a better post game. I dont know that he will ever be the 3pt shooter dunleavy has grown into.

After wiggin, embiid, parker and exum I place Smart, Saric and Randle at the next tier and would not be shocked to see Saric go 5th or 6th in the draft.   

[sofutomygaha]

Draft Express did some annotated highlights from the tournament.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCk4vUx0_J0

Keep your eye out, by the way, for all of the candid Jusef Nurkic footage. He's in and around the paint in about half of these highlights.

[Lucky17]

Saric did declare, but he has the option of withdrawing if he feels he's not going to be a top-ten pick, AND it sounds like there is a high probability that he will stay in Europe for another year (not coming over until 2016) even if he is drafted.

Recent interview with his agent:

Misko Raznatovic: Dario Saric Will Declare for the 2014 NBA Draft
April 16, 2014
An exclusive wide-ranging interview with Dario Saric's new agent Misko Raznatovic of Beobasket declaring his intentions to enter the 2014 NBA Draft and laying out the plan for his new client for this summer and beyond.

DraftExpress: Will Dario Saric be entering the 2014 NBA Draft?

Misko Raznatovic: Dario will declare for the 2014 draft in the next seven days for sure, what's a logical step after the best season in his career. He was voted the best young player in Europe by FIBA, as well as MVP of the Adriatic League.

DraftExpress: Will Saric keep his name in the draft at the withdrawal deadline?

Misko Raznatovic: It is very difficult to say at this moment. His target is to be in the top 10 picks of the draft this year, maybe it would be acceptable to be a lottery pick. If we have a clear situation for getting where we would like him to be drafted, then for sure he will keep his name in.

DraftExpress: What will need to happen for Saric to join a NBA team immediately next season?

Misko Raznatovic: It's very difficult to predict now. Dario's ultimate dream is to be a NBA All-Star and he absolutely does not accept anything less than that. At this moment he believes that is better to stay in Europe for a season or two, to get a taste of the Euroleague, and then to enter the NBA when he has more experience. He believes that it will be a shortcut for making his dream. But he did not make a final decision about that, and I will not absolutely exclude that option as well. He just wants to make a proper step and be in a place where he will be able to develop and play.

DraftExpress: How can a NBA team be confident that we aren't talking about another Fran Vazquez situation, where the player gets picked in the lottery and decides not to ever sign a NBA contract, which makes the team that drafted him look incredibly foolish and maybe costs a GM his job?

Misko Raznatovic: I really believe that after talking for five minutes with Dario, that doubt will be gone. He cannot wait to become a NBA player, and this is his ultimate goal. He will be in the league no later than 2016, and with good chances to start earlier.

DraftExpress: Why is Dario's father so anti-NBA?

Misko Raznatovic: He is absolutely not anti-NBA. He is just against him coming to the league this summer, because he believes it's too early for him. He was teammates with Drazen Petrovic, along with other Croatian former NBA players from that period, and he strongly believes that they (Kukoc, Radja, Petrovic) had success in the NBA due to coming later in their career (after a couple of serious seasons in the Euroleague).

DraftExpress: Will Dario's father continue to give interviews about his future constantly while he is in the draft and ultimately joins the NBA?

Misko Raznatovic: When you talk with him, it's always interesting and fun. He is open to talking, and journalists used it to get some sensational interviews. There's nothing especially wrong there, and every day it will be better and better. He worries about the future of his son, and nothing more than that.

DraftExpress: ‎What communication has Anadolu Efes had or attempted to have with Dario about signing a contract next season?

Misko Raznatovic: There's been practically no communication until now. As you know European teams do not build their teams in April, especially not when you're talking about a huge buyout, like in Dario's case.

DraftExpress: ESPN reported that he already‎ signed a three year contract with Efes. How true is that?

Misko Raznatovic: That's absolutely false information. As I clearly stated Dario did not decide anything about his summer direction (NBA or Europe). People believe this due to my link with Mr. Dusan Ivkovic (a client of mine, rumored to be their next coach). If you follow European basketball sites, Micic, Krstic and Doelmann (all clients of mine) are also linked with Efes.

DraftExpress: Why has Dario's situation the last few years always seemed so unstable?

Misko Raznatovic: I really don't want to comment about the past, but I am sure that this instability is over. We talked a lot, and agreed about everything. We have our plan now and I believe that in the future everything will go accordingly. He's a special person, and I really enjoy talking with him and representing him.

From DraftExpress.com http://www.draftexpress.com#ixzz30OGuoQ00
http://www.draftexpress.com