The Philadelphia 76ers are beginning preparations to head to Orlando to resume the 2019-20 season, but one young prospect will not be joining them.
Second-year guard Zhaire Smith, who had a solid finish to the G League season with the Delaware Blue Coats, will not be traveling to Orlando after suffering a bone bruise in his left knee. According to The Athletic’s Derek Bodner, the young swingman began experiencing pain prior to the team beginning voluntary workouts and he is expected to make a full recovery.
This is a tough blow for Smith who has had a lot of trouble finding his footing at the NBA level after going through a nightmare of a rookie season. The experience of being around his veteran teammates for this stretch run and then the playoffs would have been great for him to learn from.
Philadelphia 76ers wing Zhaire Smith has a bone bruise in his left knee, per source. He will not travel to Orlando.
Smith began experiencing pain prior to the Sixers resuming workouts last week, and he started treatment immediately. He is expected to make a full recovery.
— Derek Bodner (@DerekBodnerNBA) June 30, 2020
Smith was not very likely to factor into the team’s playoff rotation, but it is tough to see him go down with another injury such as this one. [lawrence-related id=33782,33770,33762]