2. Improve strength and conditioning
Despite standing 6’10”, Saric weighs in at just 223 pounds. Moving forward, Saric’s body shape and size are not only going to determine his future effectiveness, but also the overall success of the Sixers franchise.
Adding size to Saric’s frame will assist in a number of areas. In the era of “pace and space” and “position-less basketball,” players are more than ever required to play in multiple positions on the floor. While Saric has the ability to both post up and face the basket on his offense, his overall lateral quickness and explosiveness is far from ranking among the elite.
More from Hoops Habit
- 7 Players the Miami Heat might replace Herro with by the trade deadline
- Meet Cooper Flagg: The best American prospect since LeBron James
- Are the Miami Heat laying the groundwork for their next super team?
- Sophomore Jump: 5 second-year NBA players bound to breakout
- NBA Trades: The Lakers bolster their frontcourt in this deal with the Pacers
So looking ahead, Saric possessing the ability to play at both the 4- and 5-spots is going to be of tremendous benefit to both himself and the team. From the perspective of Sixers head coach Brett Brown, the more interchangeable players he can have at his disposal, the better.
So if Saric can add some size to his frame, and combines this with his varied skill-set, he could prove to be more than a handful at both the 4 and 5 against a variety of opponents on the offensive end.
But it’s defensively where improving Saric’s size and strength is of vital importance. While many of the modern-day players at the 4-spot are virtual stretch-4s, having the versatility to both defend down low and hit the glass are going to be imperative if Saric is to flourish as he gains more experience.
A prime example is the following defensive matchup against All-Star forward Blake Griffin.
Although he’s inexperienced, the ease with which Griffin backs his way down for a short jump hook is something that both Saric and the Sixers will be monitoring. With Saric clearly not being a shot-blocking presence (just 30 total blocks last season), becoming a more physical and active defender is a clear priority for his second season.