Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid is interested in veteran NBA forward Dario Saric as a potential offseason target, according to a report from Javier Maestro of Encestando (Spanish link; hat tip to Sportando).
As Maestro explains, Real Madrid is on the lookout for a big man who can play the four and five and is capable of spreading the floor and playing alongside center Usman Garuba. Former NBA standout Serge Ibaka has filled that role for the club this season, but his production has been down this season and his contract is expiring.
Saric remains under contract with the Nuggets, but has played an extremely limited role since signing with the team as a free agent last offseason. The Croatian forward/center has appeared in just 15 games for Denver this season and hasn’t played at all this month.
Saric has struggled when given a chance to play, averaging just 3.5 points and 3.3 rebounds in 13.5 minutes per night, with a shooting line of .339/.269/.700. All of those shooting percentages are career lows by a significant margin.
Saric is no stranger to the EuroLeague, having suited up for Anadolu Efes in Turkey before making the move to the NBA in 2016. However, it’s unclear if he’ll be looking to return to Europe for his age-31 season this summer or if his goal will be to exhaust his NBA options first.
Crucially, it’s worth noting that Saric’s contract with Denver includes a $5.4MM player option for the 2025/26 season. It’s not unprecedented for a player to give up guaranteed money in order to sign a lucrative contract and play a key role in Europe – Sasha Vezenkov did so last summer – but if Saric picks up that option, he’d have to be waived in order to become a viable option for Real Madrid or any other European team.
If he values actually playing he is likely going overseas. I would understand the choice. The pay cut likely isn’t that crazy and riding the bench has to be tough after awhile.
Denver would probably welcome not having this salary on the books for next year as well. They have a history of being cheap.
He has guaranteed salary for $5.4 million and the top players in Europe don’t make more than $3 million. Combine that with a 40% income tax and it is a much harder decision to make financially. There will still be job offers in Europe for him in 2026 as long as he is healthy.
My point still holds. Maybe the financial choice is harder like you say. But if he actually wants to play he won’t be staying with the Nuggets.
Plus the quality of life is better in Spain imo. I’ve lived in the US and in Spain. I would consider moving back to Spain but not the US. And this isn’t a new feeling I’ve felt this way since I left the US.
Don’t leave Dario
I remember when GS fans were telling me Garuba was going to be a all star
Never heard that but go ahead and claim it. Only thing GS fans said was give him a chance at center last year when they didn’t have any center.
Umm…Looney was with the Warriors last year…They are the same size.
Looney been passed by a rookie right now. Looney is a back up center.
Sort of. They have different roles. You play Looney for defense and rebounding. You play Post for offense, especially outside shooting. Post hasn’t replaced him, yet.
Looney been inconsistent this year.
What happened to this guy ????
After his injuries he stopped playing. No one really gave him mins. He was good enough to be a solid rotation guy. His career just never got back on track.
Warriors played him a lot early last year and then his production faded. He’s not as quick defensively as he used to be as a young guy. In fact, I loved his game as a young guy with the sixers.
Nice shooter, went to the hole strong, but as you say Al, those injuries come along which usurp your athleticism. All he has left really is that jumpshot from three, but if you’re not playing, it gets a little rusty.
He has good size. Too bad right ….
Denver has got to get the small things together
Moves like Nnaji Reggie Jackson and now Saric are a lot harder to overcome today than they were 5 years ago
Spain over the US, plus you wont get deported for sharing a personal opinion there.