By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
Just two days before the NBA draft in which he was projected to be picked in the lottery, Dario Saric decided that it’s better for him to stay in Europe at least until the summer of 2016 and signed a 2+1 seasons contract with Anadolu Efes.
The 20 years old forward, probably the biggest talent of his age in Europe, was long rumored to be flirting with the Turkish club, as he shares the same agent, Misko Raznatovic, with the new coach of Efes, the legendary Serbian Dusan Ivkovic. However, the announcement of such a deal just before the NBA draft is expected to affect his chances to be picked high in the first round. Initially it was though that Efes was Saric’s fall back option if he wasn’t picked high enough or by an NBA team of his liking, but the Turkish club finally convinced him to stay in the old continent.
The buy out for Saric to Cibona is 1.2 million euros and it will be paid by Efes in three annual installments. This summer the Croatian team will receive 400.000 euros. The same amount (1.2 m. euros) is the NBA out included in the new contract with Efes. As for the player, despite the rumors about a monster deal, his total contract with Anadolu Efes is worth around 2 million euros in total for three seasons according to sources from Turkey. Considering the age of the player, it’s not a bad deal and we have to note that those are net amounts.
UPDATE: According to NBA sources, the new NBA out for Saric is 800.000 US dollars, but nothing is confirmed yet by the club.