NBA trade rumors: Dario Saric to finally play for the Philadelphia 76ers next season

(REUTERS/Benoit Tessier)Dario Saric

The Philadelphia 76ers will get another player on the lineup next season with word that Dario Saric will finally start his NBA journey.

Saric was the 12th overall draft pick of the 2014 NBA draft, acquired in a trade that involved guard Elfrid Payton. The Croatian spend the last few seasons in the Euroleague, playing for Anadolu Efes. But with his coach (Dusan Ivkovic) leaving, the 6-foot-10 power forward has reportedly decided to head on to the NBA instead.

Normally, his coming would be a big one, though the Sixers may have some issues on how to play him. The team is filled with young and talented forwards like Nerlens Noel, Joel Embiid and Jahlil Okafor, though trades in the offseason could somehow resolve all that.

For now, there is no word on who the Sixers would deal, though it may be a toss-up between Noel and Okafor. A decision on that will fall on the hands of the new Sixers top brass.

As far as Saric is concerned, the Croatian forward put up decent numbers in the leagues where he played so far this season. He averaged 11.3 points and 5.8 rebounds with an average playing time of 22.6 minutes and owns a decent shooting percentage from the field and beyond the arc.

The worry about which position he would be taking should shape up once he does land in Philly, plus the fate of the three other center-forwards the Sixers currently have on their roster.

Embiid is reportedly also all set to make his NBA debut after two seasons. Hampered by foot problems, his health and performance could be driving factors as well for the club to see who stays and who goes.

Sam Hinkie will no longer be around after the general manager stepped down earlier this month. Bryan Colangelo succeeds him as the new general manager, while also being named the team's new president of Basketball Operations, taking over from Hinkie.

Hinkie was reportedly not willing to agree to a power-sharing arrangement with Bryan, whose father, Jerry Colangelo, was given full authority over the team.

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