How Dario Saric Can Unlock The Warriors
The NBA free agency period has been filled with excitement, tension, and anticipation that has led to many well-known players signing major-money contracts with brand new teams, especially in Golden State. One name that Warriors fans should keep a keen eye on is the newly acquired big man, Dario Saric.
"To get a guy like Dario, it’s hard for us to find bigs who fit right in our system; obviously, Looney and Draymond have been amazing, but we want to add depth” said Warriors General Manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. on signing Saric.
It has been stated by multiple people within the organization, including Steve Kerr and Steph Curry, that the Warriors were lacking variety in their offense last year after getting eliminated in the second round of the playoffs by the Los Angeles Lakers in six games.
The NBA is moving in a direction that is different than traditional five-man lineups with two bigs whose priority is not scoring and shooting from outside the paint. Teams are relying on running in transition and spreading out the floor with four shooters and one big man. The newly acquired veteran players will give them the variety they need on offense: Chris Paul and Corey Joseph will help to reduce their turnovers, but specifically Saric will be a big key in unlocking those floor-spacing lineups.
The 29-year-old, 6-foot-10-inch power forward will give them an element to their offense that they have been lacking in recent seasons: A big man who can stretch the floor beyond the three-point line.
"The one thing we knew we needed was a stretch big. Chris was very high on him. Draymond was very high on him. I think he (Saric) adds an IQ, toughness, an ability to make shots, and also an ability to pass and know how to play. I think he’s going to find it a lot easier to score on our team," Warriors Assistant General Manager Larry Harris with Willard & Dibs on 95.7 The Game, the Warriors Flagship Radio Network.
During his time in the Association, Dario has had an above-average career 3-point field goal percentage of 36% and a 44% field goal percentage. There has been no question that Golden State has had an offensive deficiency with their two big lineups, that were exposed in their most recent playoff stint last year.
There are a lot of different lineups that they will utilize this upcoming season, and Saric might be a key impact player. The first thought is that he will be a key player on the second unit, along with Paul, and they will rely on his scoring from outside, chemistry and familiarity with Paul in the pick and roll/pop action from their time together with the Phoenix Suns. He’ll also bring veteran experience playing with players on the second unit like Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, and Gary Payton II; his abilities as a well-rounded offensive player have the opportunity to give their second unit a consistent scoring presence that they lacked last season.
Another lineup that could potentially be very successful is when he plays with the starters and championship core. The lineup of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green, and Dario Saric can give the Warriors a new look and the variety of offense that they desperately needed last season, a 5-out scoring lineup that doesn’t lose size like their classic “death lineups” have in the past.
He is coming off an off-year where he only played 28 games between the Suns and the Thunder due to injury, but if he can produce for the Warriors in the same capacity as Otto Porter Jr when they won the NBA title two years ago, the Dubs will be in great shape heading into next season.
During his one year with Golden State, Porter Jr. played in 63 games. He averaged 22 minutes per game while having a 46% field goal percentage and shooting 37% from beyond the three-point line. If Saric can replicate those numbers, then Warrior fans will be pleasantly surprised, and he can potentially unlock a new variety of skills for the Warriors frontcourt that they have been lacking since their championship year two years ago.
The Warriors have one more roster spot that they said they wanted to fill, and are potentially looking at another big off the bench, but nonetheless they have had a productive offseason. If the Warriors want to get back to the playoffs and ultimately win another championship, their championship core of Curry, Thompson, Green, Kevon Looney, and Wiggins must lead the way for the rest of the team, on and off the court, to get back to the playoffs and win a championship. And along the way, guys like Dario Saric will be key to making that all the easier for them.
(Photo credit: Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images)