Phoenix Suns: 3 players facing the most pressure in 2019-20
By Adam Noel
3. Dario Saric
Last year was a bit of an oddity for Dario Saric.
After a strong two seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers, the forward was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves 13 games into the season. What followed was 68 games played in Minnesota, 28 of which Saric started for the team.
The result was a career-low average in minutes, points and field goal attempts for the Croatian big man.
Fast forward to today, Saric has found himself a new home with the Phoenix Suns.
Saric is in a contract year with the Suns as he enters final year of his rookie deal he signed in 2016. With free agency looming on the horizon, the pressure will be on Saric to deliver in his fourth year in the league.
But while last season wasn’t indicative of the type of player Saric is, there’s hope that he will return to his Philadelphia form.
That could evolve into Phoenix finding the perfect partner in the frontcourt to work with budding center Deandre Ayton. Saric will provide floor spacing from the four position, while inducing a strong offensive game.
The forward is a career 35.8 percent 3-point shooter and could be the exact type of fit to work around Ayton and guard Devin Booker.
That’s also the type of reasoning that means pressure on Saric will be significantly higher than some of the other new faces in Phoenix. He will be expected to step up and make immediate contributions from day one.
While Saric may not be the biggest acquisition of the Suns’ offseason, he certainly faces high expectations for next season.