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Dario Saric could wind up staying in Turkey

    by Keith Pompey
    Published 

It doesn't sound optimistic that Dario Saric will play for the 76ers next season.

Sixers president of basketball operations Bryan Colangelo and coach Brett Brown met with Saric and his agent Wednesday in Turkey to discuss his plans.

"The timing of him coming to the NBA is still in question," Colangelo told NBA.com Friday while in Treviso, Italy at the addidas Eurocamp. "I believe there's a desire on both sides to make it happen sooner rather than later.  But at the same time, the contract scenario, economics, etc. all plays a part in that decision making. We'll know soon enough whether it's going to happen for this particular season. That's our goal and our desire. I think in the next few weeks we'll have more clarity."

Saric would benefit more from a financial standpoint if he remained overseas for one more season playing for Anadolu Efes of the Turkish Basketball League. However, he would get playing time next season with the Sixers that might not be available if he waits another year.

Saric was drafted by the Orlando Magic with the 12th overall pick in 2014 and immediately traded to the Sixers. However, he signed a three-year contract with the Turkish team in the week leading up to the NBA draft. He can opt out of that contract and join the Sixers this offseason.

Saric would be tied to his rookie-scale deal if plays in the NBA next season. Utah Jazz forward Trey Lyles, who was selected 12th overall in 2015, will make $10.4 million during his four-year rookie contract. Saric will make a little more than that if he comes over this summer. He would be able to negotiate a deal for a much richer salary with the Sixers if he waited until the summer of 2017. A league source said he believes Saric could receive about $6 million a season if he waits until next year.

"I don't think I'm optimistic or pessimistic," Colangelo told NBA.com of his sense if Saric will come over next season. "I think I'm just neutral right now. I do [have a gut feeling) but I'm not sure I want to reveal it. I'm hopeful we can get it done.

"It would be helpful to the organization and I think it would actually be helpful to Dario to kind of get off on the right foot in the league."

Follow and contact PMN 76ers beat writer Keith Pompey on Twitter @PompeyOnSixers and on Instagram at PompeyOnSixers