Sixers Inbox is back open again and we are addressing your questions submitted on Twitter. Feel free to send a Tweet to @Sixerdelphia at any time to be included in the next Sixers Inbox. Let's get started…
What's Dario Saric's floor and how does he fit with the Sixers?
~@iamhbaby
Assuming Saric comes to the Sixers next year, which he's implied many times over the past few months, there are plenty of ways the team could use him, both as a starter and a valuable asset on the bench. At 6-foot-9, he fits in best as a four, but would likely be used at a three in many situations with the amount of bigs the Sixers could end up with next season. Currently through 16 games with Anadolu Efes, Saric is averaging 11 points and 5.1 rebounds in 21.3 minutes per game.
Saric's shooting percentage has improved since last season, now up to 50.4 percent compared to 43.3, so the Sixers could likely use him as more of a scorer than a rebounder, since they are going to have some combination of Jahlil Okafor/Nerlens Noel/Joel Embiid. His three-point percentage has jumped from 30.6 percent to 45 percent as well. You hope he can become somewhat of a hybrid forward like Thaddeus Young, but he's got a nice mid-range game as well, so in all reality he could pan out to be much more than that.
Does Blake Griffin come to Philly?
~@bryanperry_2
The short answer here is no. It just doesn't make any sense with the direction this team is going. With Dario Saric and Joel Embiid in the wings, bringing Griffin in not only puts more money on the Sixers books, but also really messes up what they have going right now in terms of young talent. They aren't going to part with Okafor or Noel until they see if Joel Embiid makes a full recovery and that's what it would take to get a deal done. Apparently, the Clippers offered Griffin to the Nuggets for a package of players, but Denver declined.
Do you think the Sixers have any interest in Ricky Rubio? What would you be willing to give up for him?
~@a2khawaii
Honestly, I don't think the Sixers have much interest in Rubio, who is reportedly readily available, for a few reasons. First of all, Ish Smith is here for the remainder of at least this season and I don't think there's any reason to take minutes away from him at this point. They perform better when he is on the court and he likely won't demand the money Rubio is owed if the Sixers want to bring him back. Rubio's season averages in points (9.7), assists (8.6) and minutes (30.3) are all down this year and don't really compare to Smith's contributions since joining the team. Smith has averaged 15.3 points and 7.9 assists in 21 games for the Sixers and has developed a great chemistry with Nerlens Noel among others. He's also proven to be a great mentor to T.J. McConnell, who has been having a nice year as the backup point guard.
Rubio is owed over $40 million the next three years and I just don't see anyone on the Sixers management jumping on that seeing how the process has gone so far. In terms of what I'd be willing to give up for him? If the Sixers had a gun pointed at their head, I would probably say the most I'd part with is a second round pick and their choice of Hollis Thompson or Isaiah Canaan. He just doesn't bring much worth to the team right now, or in the future for that matter.
What can we get for Canaan? Does Jakarr have any value? Any big contracts we can take on for 1st rd picks?
~@Hagmann1
For a guy who relies strictly on shooting and shoots under 40 percent from the field and three-point range, Isaiah Canaan doesn't really have much worth, even as a rental player. The Sixers have the option to give him a qualifying offer before the end of the season, but otherwise I don't expect him to be on the team next year. With three potential first round picks, Dario Saric, Joel Embiid and a second round pick, his services aren't needed and I don't see too many teams biting.
As far as Sampson goes, its the same story. He doesn't really have any valuable assets to his game that make him marketable at the trade deadline. Unlike Canaan, he can get to the rim, but he doesn't play a lot and doesn't really offer much in terms of shooting, hitting just 17.9 percent of his three pointers and 24.6 percent from three to 10 feet.
When it comes to big contracts, I think right now the Sixers are still going through the process of who is going to be a part of their future and who isn't. Once they find that out, they may dip into free agency and bigger trades, but this upcoming draft is too important to take on salaries they don't need at this time in the process.
Brandon Apter, Managing Editor for Sixerdelphia.com
