The Sixers are going to have a couple of rookie point-forwards on the roster come October.
Ben Simmons, the 2016 No. 1 pick, has been showing off his potential in the Las Vegas Summer League.
He will be joined by 2014 No. 12 pick Dario Saric, who will sign with the Sixers on Friday, reports CSNPhilly.com.
Saric is 6'10" whose playmaking skills got him named the tournament MVP after leading Croatia to an Olympic berth. Saric plays a high IQ game, brings impressive ball handling skills for his size, has great scoring instincts (in the post and transition), plus he is a gifted passer.
The Sixers have a crowded front court with Simmons, Saric, Jahlil Okafor, Nerlens Noel, and now Joel Embiid is expected to play. That’s why Noel and Okafor come up in trade rumors.
Coming over to start his NBA career now, Saric is locked into the 2014 rookie scale, meaning he would have $4.7 million guaranteed and $10.8 million for the four years of the contract. After three seasons, the Sixers can offer a contract extension beyond this deal, but he would be locked in for the rookie scale that fourth year.
Saric was true to his word coming over now, but if he waited one more season he would not have been tied to the rookie scale and could have negotiated any deal he can get from Philadelphia (which certainly would have been larger than the current one).
