How Good Will Saric Be?

[celticsclay]

Hey all. Apparently the biggest discussion these days is whether the Celtics should trade for Okafor, or possibly Noel with something centered around the number 3 pick. Part of the reason this trade may seem like a necessity for 76ers is that in addition to those two and Embid they also have another big coming over this year or next year in Saric. I was discussing how good I thought Saric would be recently and it made me wonder what other people thought of his NBA potential. The process of getting him over here has been a lot of parallels with Mirotic's transition to the NBA, but I wonder if they have will have a similar impact in the NBA (I admit I have not seen tons of footage of Saric and he has a different game than Mirotic). However it is interesting that Mirotic was considered a lottery level talent at various point but slid to late first after concerns about his contract situation/availability to immediately play.

[Ilikesports17]

Ive seen him described as a less athletic ben simmons, who has been described as a less athletic lebron James.

I think he will be a low end starter/high end bench guy. Now if he gets traded to the Celtics Id say hed be a solid starter.

I kid, but perhaps Brad Stevens development vs. the 2k6ers could actually make that type of difference.

[celticsclay]

Maybe this is unfair or unfounded, but I feel like if he does not come over to this year it may reach a point of starting to hurt his longterm NBA potential. He is has been playing in the European league and training with the European staff for many years now. The game is different over there (many players have talked about this) and it is certainly different for his development than if he was over here in 76ers camp. It seems like a lot of players receive great molding and teaching in their first couple of years in the NBA when the top prospects arrive at 19 or 20. If he comes over next year (when he can sign a contract worth many millions more) he will already be 23 which is definitely on the older end of being prospect. By comparison Avery Bradley is 25 and has been in the league 6 seasons. He saw tremendous improvement between 21 and 23 in the NBA. 

[PickNRoll]

From what I've seen

- athletically challenged.  Will have trouble with NBA athletes inside or outside
- sneaky strong, tough, willing to bang.  Compensates with hustle and effort
- good range, good mechanics, can shoot the NBA 3
- good feel, sound fundamentally

I think he'll have trouble carving a niche on a good team, but could put up some numbers for Philly.  If you think about these playoffs, who can he guard and who can he switch onto?  Lebron, Tristan Thompson, Draymond, Bogut, Iguodala, Durant, and so on.  Seems like a nightmare.

[apc]

I voted starter based on my zero knowledge of him. Not even a highlights videos.

[greece66]

Maybe this is unfair or unfounded, but I feel like if he does not come over to this year it may reach a point of starting to hurt his longterm NBA potential. He is has been playing in the European league and training with the European staff for many years now. The game is different over there (many players have talked about this) and it is certainly different for his development than if he was over here in 76ers camp. It seems like a lot of players receive great molding and teaching in their first couple of years in the NBA when the top prospects arrive at 19 or 20. If he comes over next year (when he can sign a contract worth many millions more) he will already be 23 which is definitely on the older end of being prospect. By comparison Avery Bradley is 25 and has been in the league 6 seasons. He saw tremendous improvement between 21 and 23 in the NBA.

European teams (with the possible exception of the Spanish ones) are not very good at developing talents: most of them have to win in the here and now.

Add to this that his father is very outspoken and seems to be making decisions instead of him + the noticeable lack of athleticism and things do not look rosy.

He is an excellent shooter for his size, but if he seriously wants to make a career to the NBA the earlier he comes the better IMO.

[LarBrd33]

I'd be interested to hear from an expert where he'd go in this draft.  I doubt anyone here is really qualified to make an estimate.  I've just read that he's a better prospect than Bender so that might give us a small idea.

[celticsclay]

I'd be interested to hear from an expert where he'd go in this draft.  I doubt anyone here is really qualified to make an estimate.  I've just read that he's a better prospect than Bender so that might give us a small idea.

I mean I'm pretty sure Chad Ford said that Mirotic would be a top 5 pick in the 2014 NBA draft
That means they viewed him as being a better prospect than the majority of Smart, Randle, Gordon and Exum. I don't think, with the possible exception of Exum cause of injuries, that any of those teams would pick up the phone to trade those guys for Mirotic. People are complaining about Hield's age cause he is a few years older than a lot of the other prospects. Saric is 6 months younger and may not come over this season.

BTW I kind of put the option of Superstar in as a joke. Dirk is really the only modern day superstar from Europe (though the Gasol brothers are great) and even he was a number 8 pick in a time when there was a lot more fear of european players. The idea that Saric drafted at the end of the lottery and staying in Europe for a few years come over and becomes a superstar seems like an incredible longshot.

[BornReady]

He reminds me of tony kukoc minus the playmaking or maybe Ryan Anderson

I don't think staying in Europe for a couple of years is that bad as older European players have come to NBA excelled like mirotic

But his dad pulling the strings is worrying

[Eddie20]

I'd be interested to hear from an expert where he'd go in this draft.  I doubt anyone here is really qualified to make an estimate.  I've just read that he's a better prospect than Bender so that might give us a small idea.

No way. I guarantee you that you're likely sourcing some Sixers blog as usual. If I'm wrong link your "source". He's like Mirotic with better playmaking, but worse shooting. The fact is that he's improved very little since he was drafted. This season he's averaging 11 ppg and 5.8 rpg in 22 mpg. The rebounding numbers are concerning, but more concerning are his assists (1.4) to turnovers (1.5) since he's often been billed as a playmaking 4. He's now 22, so that would be held against him greatly during a draft. Also held against him would be a marginal wingspan (6-10) and athletic ability, which like Mirotic, makes him a liability against 4's and 3's. I could see him going in the lottery, but definitely can't see him going ahead of Bender, Murray, Dunn, or Hield (similar wingspan at nearly 6-10 himself and with better positional size).

[greece66]

I'd be interested to hear from an expert where he'd go in this draft.  I doubt anyone here is really qualified to make an estimate.  I've just read that he's a better prospect than Bender so that might give us a small idea.

I mean I'm pretty sure Chad Ford said that Mirotic would be a top 5 pick in the 2014 NBA draft
That means they viewed him as being a better prospect than the majority of Smart, Randle, Gordon and Exum. I don't think, with the possible exception of Exum cause of injuries, that any of those teams would pick up the phone to trade those guys for Mirotic. People are complaining about Hield's age cause he is a few years older than a lot of the other prospects. Saric is 6 months younger and may not come over this season.

BTW I kind of put the option of Superstar in as a joke. Dirk is really the only modern day superstar from Europe (though the Gasol brothers are great) and even he was a number 8 pick in a time when there was a lot more fear of european players. The idea that Saric drafted at the end of the lottery and staying in Europe for a few years come over and becomes a superstar seems like an incredible longshot.

[Denis998]

I think he is very good. Good shooting skills, has bounce, and is a slasher. All at 6'10.

[celticsclay]

I'd be interested to hear from an expert where he'd go in this draft.  I doubt anyone here is really qualified to make an estimate.  I've just read that he's a better prospect than Bender so that might give us a small idea.

I mean I'm pretty sure Chad Ford said that Mirotic would be a top 5 pick in the 2014 NBA draft
That means they viewed him as being a better prospect than the majority of Smart, Randle, Gordon and Exum. I don't think, with the possible exception of Exum cause of injuries, that any of those teams would pick up the phone to trade those guys for Mirotic. People are complaining about Hield's age cause he is a few years older than a lot of the other prospects. Saric is 6 months younger and may not come over this season.

BTW I kind of put the option of Superstar in as a joke. Dirk is really the only modern day superstar from Europe (though the Gasol brothers are great) and even he was a number 8 pick in a time when there was a lot more fear of european players. The idea that Saric drafted at the end of the lottery and staying in Europe for a few years come over and becomes a superstar seems like an incredible longshot.

I am curious what players you would call a superstar that are currently from Europe
I would say

James
Curry
Durant
Westbrook
Harden
Antonio Davis
Chris Paul
Blake Griffin
Aldridge
 and a perhaps a very few select others would be considered superstars.

A few years back the list would have included
Ray Allen
KG
Pierce
Kobe
Duncan
dirk nowitzki
Wade
Bosh
and a few others

Pau in particular was close but he was always clearly the second best player on the Lakers and never had a period where he was clearly playing as a 1. If you disagree with that, please explain where you think I am missing. However, your current posts is just garbage that contributes nothing to the board. Please contribute more than this in the future.

[PickNRoll]

I'd be interested to hear from an expert where he'd go in this draft.  I doubt anyone here is really qualified to make an estimate.  I've just read that he's a better prospect than Bender so that might give us a small idea.

No way. I guarantee you that you're likely sourcing some Sixers blog as usual. If I'm wrong link your "source". He's like Mirotic with better playmaking, but worse shooting. The fact is that he's improved very little since he was drafted. This season he's averaging 11 ppg and 5.8 rpg in 22 mpg. The rebounding numbers are concerning, but more concerning are his assists (1.4) to turnovers (1.5) since he's often been billed as a playmaking 4. He's now 22, so that would be held against him greatly during a draft. Also held against him would be a marginal wingspan (6-10) and athletic ability, which like Mirotic, makes him a liability against 4's and 3's. I could see him going in the lottery, but definitely can't see him going ahead of Bender, Murray, Dunn, or Hield (similar wingspan at nearly 6-10 himself and with better positional size).

"Mirotic with better playmaking" sounds better than Bender to me.

[BitterJim]

I'd be interested to hear from an expert where he'd go in this draft.  I doubt anyone here is really qualified to make an estimate.  I've just read that he's a better prospect than Bender so that might give us a small idea.

I mean I'm pretty sure Chad Ford said that Mirotic would be a top 5 pick in the 2014 NBA draft
That means they viewed him as being a better prospect than the majority of Smart, Randle, Gordon and Exum. I don't think, with the possible exception of Exum cause of injuries, that any of those teams would pick up the phone to trade those guys for Mirotic. People are complaining about Hield's age cause he is a few years older than a lot of the other prospects. Saric is 6 months younger and may not come over this season.

BTW I kind of put the option of Superstar in as a joke. Dirk is really the only modern day superstar from Europe (though the Gasol brothers are great) and even he was a number 8 pick in a time when there was a lot more fear of european players. The idea that Saric drafted at the end of the lottery and staying in Europe for a few years come over and becomes a superstar seems like an incredible longshot.

I am curious what players you would call a superstar that are currently from Europe
I would say

James
Curry
Durant
Westbrook
Harden
Antonio Davis
Chris Paul
Blake Griffin
Aldridge
 and a perhaps a very few select others would be considered superstars.

A few years back the list would have included
Ray Allen
KG
Pierce
Kobe
Duncan
dirk nowitzki
Wade
Bosh
and a few others

Pau in particular was close but he was always clearly the second best player on the Lakers and never had a period where he was clearly playing as a 1. If you disagree with that, please explain where you think I am missing. However, your current posts is just garbage that contributes nothing to the board. Please contribute more than this in the future.

Seriously, dude?  In what way is that necessary?  This part of your current post is just garbage that contributes nothing to the board. Please contribute better than this in the future.