Positional Power Rankings: 30 best power forwards in the NBA
By John Buhler
Dario Saric
Power Forward, Philadelphia 76ers
It’s about time for this year’s most consistent candidate for Rookie of the Year to make his appearance. Dario Saric has been a good, but not great player for a bad Philadelphia 76ers team. However, he has proven that he is part of the solution and not part of the problem in Philadelphia’s rebuilding efforts.
The frontcourt logjam has been far too much of an issue with the 76ers. Trading center Nerlens Noel to the Dallas Mavericks helps open up the floor, but it still seems like the 76ers still have a trade to make this offensive in the frontcourt. One would assume shipping center Jahlil Okafor literally anywhere else.
Saric and Embiid stand to be a frontcourt pairing that can space the floor with strong three-point games, while also demonstrating competent play in the low post defensively. Since injured point guard Ben Simmons still can’t shoot, having bigs that can make buckets with jump shots helps the 76ers play a more competitive brand of basketball.
For a rookie to already be a top-20 power forward in the league says two things: 1.) Maybe the position group isn’t as deep as it was a year or two ago? 2.) Saric was as good as advertised coming out of Croatia. His on-court success is another win for The Process, even if the architect of that tank job isn’t with the team any more.