As the Philadelphia 76ers continue their draft preparation for the 2021 NBA draft on July 29, now is the time to look back on past drafts as we lead up to this one from Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
In this edition, we look back at the 2018 NBA draft when Philadelphia held the 10th pick in the first round. With the pick, the Sixers selected Mikal Bridges out of Villanova, a 3-and-D option for the roster.
It was a perfect fit. He grew up in the Philadelphia area, and his mother worked for the organization. However, the Sixers then flipped Bridges to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for the 16th pick which turned into Texas Tech standout Zhaire Smith.
Over two seasons in Philadelphia, Smith battled a ton of adversity. From injuries to an allergic reaction to losing a lot of weight, he played in 13 games and a total of 143 minutes. He was traded to the Detroit Pistons in the 2020 offseason before Detroit waived him.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-QPP5i13bo
Smith signed a deal with the Memphis Grizzlies in December, but that did not last long. He spent the season with the team’s G League affiliate, the Memphis Hustle, but he did not appear in any games.
Considering he is only 22 years old, there is still hope for Smith to get an opportunity in the league. He needs to find the right fit and take advantage of his next chance.
This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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