The Golden State Warriors and free forward Dario Saric have agreed to a one-year contract, according to agents Jeff Schwartz and Mike Lindemann of Excel Sports. As part of trade restrictions, the winger cannot be traded until December 15, 2023.
Sarek, 29, was selected 12th overall by the Orlando Magic in the 2014 NBA draft. However, the 6-foot-10 forward was immediately traded to the Philadelphia 76ers. He didn’t make his NBA debut until two years later in 2016.
At many NBA betting sites, the Golden State Warriors hold the sixth shortest odds of winning a championship next season in 2024. Check sportsbooks showing better odds with the Denver Nuggets and Phoenix Suns.
Free agent F Dario Saric has agreed to a one-year deal with the Golden State Warriors, ESPN sources report. Sarek has been one of the most sought after players in the market.
– Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 8, 2023
Sarek played three seasons with the Sixers (2016-19), one with the Minnesota Timberwolves (2018-19 season), and three with the Suns (2019-23). In addition, the six-year-old veteran appeared in 20 games off the bench with the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2022-23 season.
Moreover, Sarek made 36 appearances in 81 games in the 2016-2017 season with the 76ers. The Croatian averaged 12.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 26.3 minutes per game while shooting 41.1% from the floor and 31.1% from outside the arc.
Golden State Warriors and Dario Saric agreed to a one-year, $2.71 million contract extension; It cannot be traded until December 15th
In Philadelphia’s 117-107 win over the Chicago Bulls on March 24, 2017, Sarek scored 32 points in 35 minutes as a starter. Along with recording 10 boards, two assists, and one steal, he finished 12-of-19 (63.2%) shooting from the field and drained two 3-pointers.
In his second season 2017-18 Saric made 73 appearances in the 78 games he played for Philly. He averaged career highs of 14.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 29.6 minutes per game. Not to mention that the striker hits 45.3% from the floor and scores a better 39.3% from the midfield.
Additionally, Saric missed the entire 2021-22 season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in Game 1 of the 2021 NBA Finals against the Milwaukee Bucks. He had surgery in August 2021 and continued to miss the entire 2021-22 season.
Each of the four championship-winning Warriors teams had a position in Eastern Europe.
2015: Eugene Kuzmic
2017: Zaza Pachulia
2018: Zaza Pachulia
2022: Nemanja BjelicaWe now have Dario Sarek. pic.twitter.com/4mTjZL32fU
– WarriorsMuse (WarriorsMuse) July 8, 2023
Of course, Sarek made 12 of the 57 appearances in the 2022-23 season split between the Suns and Thunder. He averaged 6.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 14.1 minutes per game. The Croatian star also shot 45.8% from the field and 39.1% from outside the arc.
In February, the Suns traded Saric and a 2029 second round pick to the Thunder for Darius Bazley. Phoenix and Oklahoma City received trade exceptions as well.
In OKC’s 123-117 victory over the Sacramento Kings on February 28, Wing scored a season-high 21 points and grabbed eight boards in 28 minutes off the bench. He finished 7-of-11 (63.6%) shooting from the floor and draining 2 of 3-pointers.
This move by the Warriors should help provide the team much needed bulk and shooting off the bench.