Croatian big man Dario Saric appears headed to the NBA in time for next season, according to league sources.
Sources told ESPN.com on Wednesday that Saric and the Philadelphia 76ers are actively working on the details that would enable the 7-footer to head to the NBA after playing with the Croatian national team this summer.
Saric told Croatian reporters this week that, as expected, he wants to join the Sixers as soon as possible despite having one season left on his contract with Anadolu Efes in Turkey.
Saric will have to pay a buyout believed to be in the $800,000 range to secure his release from Efes to jump to the NBA, with league rules allowing Philadelphia to contribute $650,000 to the buyout amount.
Sixers general manager Bryan Colangelo told local reporters last week before the NBA draft that Philadelphia had received "a good indication" about Saric's willingness to make an immediate jump to the NBA.
Saric has spent the past two seasons playing in Turkey since Orlando selected him No. 12 in the ‎2014 draft and immediately dealt his rights to the Sixers and then-GM Sam Hinkie.
Saric and Joel Embiid -- who has lost his first two seasons to injury -- have yet to play a game for the Sixers, who, according to sources, recently explored trades for Jahlil Okafor and Nerlens Noel -- two highly drafted big men already on the roster.
