Throughout the season, this series will provide regular updates on the progress of the Sixers’ prospects playing both overseas and with the team’s NBA Development League affiliate, the Delaware 87ers. InternationalDario Saric, acquired by the Sixers from the Orlando Magic on the night of the 2014 NBA Draft, has about two and a half months left in his second season with Turkish Basketball Super League affiliate Anadolu Efes (13-4 TBSL, 9-7 Euroleague). The 6’9″ tall, 223 pound power forward appeared in two games last week. In Efes’ February 1st 85-52 victory over Torku Konyaspor, Saric started, and scored seven points (3-7 fg) in 21:30 minutes. He also registered five rebounds. Four days later, in Efes’ narrow 77-73 Euroleague loss to Fenerbahce Ulker, Saric started again. He produced 15 points (6-12 fg), and had a particularly productive showing from behind the arc, converting three of six three-point attempts. He also grabbed five rebounds during his 26 minutes on the floor. Here’s a highlight package from the game (Saric wears #9).In 30 games this season, Saric is averaging 10.5 points and 5.4 rebounds in 21.6 minutes per game. He’s shooting 48.8 percent from the field, and 37.7 percent from the perimeter. The Croatian has generated 18 games in which he has tallied at least 10 points, plus three double-doubles. His 116.3 offensive rating represents a 9.3 improvement from last year.Vasilije Micic, a 22-year old Serbian point guard whom the Sixers picked in the second round of the 2014 NBA Draft, has played in two separate leagues this campaign. Following a stint with FC Bayern Muenchen of Germany’s BBL, Micic is now a part of the Serbian KLS, playing for KK Crvena Zvezda. In a starting assignment on February 1st, he produced 12 points and 12 assists in 22 minutes. He’s averaging 3.4 points and 3.2 assists in 12.3 minutes in a total of 20 appearances this year.
Chu Maduabum, whose NBA Draft rights the Sixers have also retained, has not appeared in a professional game of record since November. At the time, the 24-year old Nigerian power forward was in the Finnish Basketball Association. Delaware 87ersAs of Wednesday, February 10th, the Delaware 87ers, led by head development coach Kevin Young, were 17-16 on the season. The Sevens are currently in the midst of a nine-day lay-off, which coincides with the NBA’s All-Star Game break. This past week, shooting guard Sean Kilpatrick returned to the club, following an eight-game NBA stint with the Denver Nuggets that spanned two separate 10-day contracts. The undrafted Cincinnati product quickly got back to his prolific scoring ways, dropping 31 points (10-22 fg) on the Maine Red Claws on February 5th. He then netted 20 points (9-19 fg) at Fort Wayne on February 9th. Kilpatrick has turned in nine separate 30-point performances on the season. He and Jordan McRae will represent the Sevens in the D-League All-Star Game this Saturday at 2:00 PM EST at the Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto. Russ Smith, recently ranked number one on the D-League Prospect Watch, continued to play well on the heels of receiving D-League Player of the Week honors for the week of January 25th through January 31st. Smith, originally selected by the Sixers in the second round of the 2014 NBA Draft, exploded for for a season-best 39 points (12-21 fg, 13-14 ft) in the Sevens’ most recent outing in Fort Wayne. He also had five rebounds and seven assists in the contest. Since spending 14 games with the Sixers at the outset of the season, rookie big man Christian Wood has been a steady contributor for Delaware. Last week, he notched his seventh D-League double-double with 24 points (8-12 fg) and 10 boards versus Maine. He’s averaging 13.9 points and 9.1 rebounds in 26.1 minutes per game for the Sevens.
