The 76ers have no intention of trading Dario Saric. The Orlando Magic's plan for Aaron Gordon could be a different story.
The Magic created a bit of stir Monday when they posted a picture of Argentina's Patricio Garino signing a contract to finish the season with the team. In the photo, Garino is sitting in front of a whiteboard with names that are apparently on the Magic's summer wish list of players who might be obtained by trade or free agency.
Under the heading "Hybrid Trade," names were listed, including Saric's. Next to Saric's name was written "(For AG?)" One possibility is that AG stands for Aaron Gordon, the Magic power forward.
A league source said Tuesday that the Sixers have not discussed Saric with the Magic or any other NBA team since he emerged this season as one of the team's top players.
"It's OK," Saric said after seeing a photo of the whiteboard. "Every team (has) got rights to think about their future, to put it on board. But to comment, I don't have something. It's OK. To me, you are doing good if they have you on (their) mind, like an option."
The irony is that Magic once had the rights to Saric. In the 2014 draft, the Sixers used the 10th overall pick on Louisiana-Lafayette point guard Elfrid Payton. Two picks later, the Magic drafted Saric. Then the Sixers traded Payton to the Magic for Saric, a 2017 first-round pick, and a 2015 second-round selection.
Payton is finishing his third season with Orlando, averaging 12.6 points, 6.3 assists, and 4.7 rebounds per game heading into Tuesday's game at Cleveland. He started 54 of 78 contests in 2016-17. Saric, who grew up in Croatia, played the last two seasons in Turkey before signing with the Sixers last summer. He is a leading candidate to win the Rookie of the Year award.
"They (traded) me," Saric said of the Magic. "That's life. ... Sometimes you can have some option in life, you choose another one. They chose one way. I chose my own way."
