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Ivica Zubac posted 24 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks to help Croatia edge the Netherlands 101-99. The center shot 8-of-10 from the field, while Dario Saric matched his 24 points and added six assists. Luka Bozic scored 18 and Mario Hezonja finished with 16.
Dante Exum was coming off an injury-plagued season in which he had only played 14 games. Dario Saric, Jakob Poeltl and Juancho Hernangomez signed while the league was still in the middle of figuring out COVID. Coming off the bubble, some players took what money they could while they could. Isaiah Jackson signed when coming off a torn Achilles’ tendon. The major takeaway here: Restricted free agency isn’t necessarily preventing players from getting paid. But it is preventing players from changing teams. Which is kind of the idea! Overall, restricted free agency can be tough on players. It seems to be getting tougher on players. But there have been adjustments. In our four-year sample size under the current CBA, only 24 players out of 120 have reached restricted free agency. That means that extensions are happening at a greater rate than ever. That’s in addition to teams cutting loose players they aren’t going to extend or re-sign.
Mario Hezonja delivered a spectacular performance as Croatia faced Turkey at a friendly tournament in Hamburg ahead of the upcoming FIBA World Cup qualifying window. Hezonja scored 37 points and hit the decisive step-back three-pointer with four seconds remaining to give Croatia a 95-94 victory. He shot 11-for-17 from the field and added six rebounds and four assists. Dario Šarić contributed 16 points and six rebounds, while Karlo Matković finished with 12. Ömer Yurtseven and Malachi Flynn scored 18 points apiece for Turkey, which played without Alperen Şengün and Tarık Biberović. Cedi Osman added 17.
Dario Saric is officially back in the EuroLeague. Anadolu Efes Istanbul have confirmed the signing of the experienced forward on a 2+1 deal, keeping him at the club until 2028, with an additional option year. Before making the jump to the NBA in 2016, Saric spent two seasons with Anadolu Efes, where he developed into one of the most promising forwards in Europe. He also played for Cibona and KK Zagreb earlier in his career, building the foundation that eventually led him to the NBA.
Serbian agent Misko Raznatovic has hinted at an NBA player's return to Europe, and, according to BasketNews sources, that player might be Dario Saric, who potentially can join Anadolu Efes Istanbul. "Turkish Airlines is the only airline that allows passengers to use the return part of a ticket exactly 10 years late," Raznatovic wrote on X, seemingly referencing his client Saric's return to Istanbul a decade after leaving for the NBA.
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Now a free agent, the Sibenik native tallied 17.0 points and 6.0 rebounds for Croatia in a home-and-away series against Germany. While he is ineligible for the current EuroLeague season due to registration deadlines, he is actively seeking a bridge contract for the remainder of the 2025-26 schedule to prepare for next year. “I’m waiting, I don’t know what to say,” he admitted. “I wanted a contract until the end of this season, plus the season after. So that I could get into some kind of rhythm, play the championship finals, and get ready for next season to show whether I’m the one or not. That hasn’t happened for now.”
When the NBA story ended, did Sarić lose his heart, did he think that he would now be able to dream bigger dreams in Europe, more specifically as a player? - It's a shame that some people in the NBA, who bring you in, say that you'll have a chance and that you'll play, and then they don't honor that, that things change. You build your life around that story, you bring your family, and it would be better if they told you back in August, "we don't want you, we're going in a different direction." And then I fly from Šibenik, come to San Francisco, drive two hours to Sacramento, fall asleep from jet lag, wake up at five in the morning, get a medical, then back to San Francisco and fly back to Europe. They forced me to do that, then I come after the national team to the start of camp, and there's just the rookie and me, just the two of us on August 25th. And I'm ready, I don't feel bad, because I really gave it my all. I trained right after I had my second child. I didn't want to give them the right to have a reason to get rid of me. And they have another plan. I don't understand what they thought in August, that I was Wemby, that I would defend everything and that I would put up roadblocks?! I guess they knew who I was. And that's strange for that level.
Saric did not want to go into details but revealed that he is ultimately aiming to return to the EuroLeague, either by the end of this season or at the start of the next. "I wouldn't go into details. It's certain that I expect to play in the EuroLeague. Whether that will be by the end of this season or next season is still open," Saric said, via Meridian Sport. He also commented on rumors that he might return to play for his former club, Cibona Zagreb. "My chapter with Cibona somehow closed in 2014, when we won the ABA League, although you can always say 'never say never.' When we talk about my future in the long term, a return to my hometown and trying to build a team there seems more likely, but that's also difficult to comment on from this position," Saric said. "Right now I'm thinking about the EuroLeague, which realistically is the second step after the NBA. I'm focused on finding a team and a system in that environment that suits me and allows a short adjustment period, because everyone coming back from the NBA needs that. A different kind of basketball is played there, but I think this style suits me and that I could adapt. I'm looking forward to new challenges."
There have already been rumors in the past about Panathinaikos' interest in Saric, with the player himself confirming them last season while playing for Denver, and upon closer look, the move could actually make sense.
Pistons PR: The @DetroitPistons announced today that the team has signed guard Daniss Jenkins to a standard NBA contract. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. In a related move, the team has requested waivers on Dario Saric.
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Omari Sankofa II: Jalen Duren (right knee soreness) is questionable tonight vs the Knicks. Tobias Harris (left hip soreness) and Duncan Robinson (left quad contusion) are probable. Dario Saric (Not With Team) is out. Daniss Jenkins isn’t on the report after sitting out last night.
Omari Sankofa II: Cade Cunningham (right wrist injury management), Tobias Harris (left knee soreness) and Kevin Huerter (trade pending) are all questionable tomorrow vs the Wizards. Dario Saric (trade pending) is out.
Yossi Gozlan: The Pistons will need to include another player or waive a player to make room for the two-for-one. Jaden Ivey for Kevin Huerter works straight up. Dario Saric will go into the $14.1 million Dennis Schroder trade exception. They have $8.7 million remaining in it.
