By Peter Gleason
For two years, NBA know-nothings like the Daily News’ Dick Jerardi have been getting off taking off on Sixers general manager Sam Hinkie:
He is nothing but analytics.
It will never work in Philly.
The fans will never stand for his tanking following by acquiring assets strategy.
Earth to Jerardi:
You are wrong again.
It now appears that next season’s Sixers will not only have Nerlens Noel, who had an impressive rookie season; Joel Embiid, who is recovered from his broken foot that cost him all of 2014-15; and probably D’Angelo Russell, the best point guard in the draft; but also 6-10 power forward Dario Saric!
According to David Pick of Basketball Insiders, the Sixers are in talks with Anadolu Efes to bring Saric back to Philly next season.
Saric, whom the Sixers landed in a draft-day trade last year, is under contract with Anadolu Efes, a Turkish basketball team, through the 2016-2017 season.
Any attempts by the Sixers to bring Saric over is going to cost them — estimated to be as high as $2 million, of which the Sixers could only pay $625,000.
That means if Saric were to come over prior to next offseason, when he has an opt-out in his contract, he would have to pay as much as $1.4 million out of his own pocket.
The Sixers attempting to bring Saric over, however, is a sign that they plan on trying to compete sooner than expected.
Next season should be an interesting one for the team, as they will have Joel Embiid on the court for the first time, as well as whoever they take with the No. 3 overall selection in the 2015 NBA Draft.
Put Saric into that mix, and next season could be the first glimpse of what general manager Sam Hinkie has spent the past two seasons trying to put together.
