Tag: Zhaire Smith

Sixers to send Zhaire Smith, Jonah Bolden back down to G League

The Philadelphia 76ers will send Zhaire Smith and Jonah Bolden back down to the Delaware Blue Coats.

While the Philadelphia 76ers continue to try and fix their issues on the court at the NBA level, they will send their younger players back down to their G League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats in order to continue their development.

After calling up second-year players Zhaire Smith and Jonah Bolden before their matchup with the Toronto Raptors, the Sixers will now send the two youngsters back down to Delaware. The Blue Coats will play their next game on Friday when they host the Winchester Knicks, the same night the Sixers are on the road to face the New York Knicks.

The Sixers probably brought Smith and Bolden up to Toronto to have them experience that level of competition and have them see what it will take to win in this league considering Toronto is the defending champions right now. Both players were with the team during the playoff run in 2019 despite not getting too much playing time. All of that experience is good for their development. [lawrence-related id=20093,20085,20074]

Sixers recall Zhaire Smith, Jonah Bolden from Blue Coats

Zhaire Smith and Jonah Bolden will get some time with the Sixers as the Blue Coats have a lull in their schedule.

The Philadelphia 76ers will be joined by a pair of fresh, albeit familiar, faces on their trip to Toronto.

The team has recalled Zhaire Smith and Jonah Bolden from the Delaware Blue Coats, and that duo will travel with the team to Toronto for Monday night’s game against the Raptors, the Athletic’s Derek Bodner reports.

Smith, who is trying to bounce back from a difficult rookie season that was derailed by a foot injury and subsequent infection, struggled to carve out a spot in the rotation early in the season and was sent to Delaware where he could get consistent playing time and continue his development. Likewise, the additions of Al Horford and Kyle O’Quinn caused Bolden to see his already small role reduced further and was assigned to the Blue Coats.

As Bodner notes, the Blue Coats don’t have a game until Friday, so there is an opportunity to get Smith and Bolden some practice with the big club.

In addition to practicing with the Sixers, it will be interesting to see if either player gets any game minutes before returning to Delaware. That seems unlikely in a tough matchup with Toronto on Monday, but perhaps Wednesday against the Kings will produce an opportunity.

At the very least, it will be good for Smith and Bolden to get some time with the big club as they attempt to become regular contributors for the Sixers. [lawrence-related id=18783,18777,18005,19331]

 

Sixers two-way prospect Norvel Pelle leads Blue Coats to win

Philadelphia 76ers two-way player Norvel Pelle leads the Delaware Blue Coats to a win.

The Philadelphia 76ers have bigger plans on the basketball court, but there is still time for the development of the youngsters. On Thursday, the team’s G League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats, got back in action and they knocked off the College Park Skyhawks 120-112 on the road.

Norvel Pelle led Delaware with 23 points on 10-for-12 shooting and he pulled down nine rebounds, Jonah Bolden had 18 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists, and Zhaire Smith had nine points, two rebounds, and twp steals while also making a triple. Bolden and Smith are on assignment from the Sixers and their development is still important for Philadelphia moving forward.

Pelle is on a two-way contract and if he continues to keep his strong play, then he could play his way into a call up with the Sixers. His strong play around the rim on both ends of the floor could earn him an opportunity sooner rather than later.

The Blue Coats were missing G League Player of the Week Marial Shayok with an injury, but it is not considered serious and he is day-to-day. Delaware plays next on Saturday against the Wisconsin Herd. [lawrence-related id=19823,19822,19474]

Sixers prospects Zhaire Smith, Marial Shayok return for Blue Coats

Young Philadelphia 76ers prospects Zhaire Smith and Marial Shayok will return on Tuesday for the Delaware Blue Coats.

While the Philadelphia 76ers are focusing on winning championships at the NBA level, their young prospects are down in the G League continuing to develop so they can help the Sixers in the future.

The good news for the Sixers’ G League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats, the top two prospects are returning. Zhaire Smith, who missed the Blue Coats’ previous two games, and Marial Shayok, who missed one game with an illness, will return to the lineup on Tuesday as Delaware will host the Capital City Go-Go.

On top of Smith and Shayok returning, the Blue Coats will also have Norvel Pelle and Shake Milton join the team to get some playing time along with Jonah Bolden.

It’s always good to have the young prospects healthy and have them out there playing and developing. Smith needs all of the developmental time he can get when considering he hasn’t had much time at the NBA level due to a rookie season that saw him play only six games. The team is invested in his development do they would like a return on it soon.

Milton, who has not played much since returning from his injury, will benefit from the time down in Delaware before most likely returning to the Sixers. Philadelphia plays next on Wednesday at home. [lawrence-related id=19579,19484,19566]

Sixers assignee Zhaire Smith to miss Blue Coats game with injury

Philadelphia 76ers assignee Zhaire Smith will miss a second straight game in the G League.

While the Philadelphia 76ers are trying to get back on track on the road in Cleveland on Sunday, their G League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats, look to make it three wins in a row Saturday at home.

They will have to do so without Sixers assignee Zhaire Smith who will miss his second straight game due to right knee soreness. The second-year guard was a regular starter through the first two games before the injury. Smith has been hoping to use the G League season as a means for him to work on his offensive game, but the injury is throwing a wrench into that plan.

Smith only played six games during his rookie season due to a Jones fracture and an allergic reaction so the Sixers assigned him to the G League for him to play. Obviously, the injury is causing that plan to be derailed a bit.

The Blue Coats face off with the Canton Charge at 7:00 p.m. EST at home in Wilmington, Delaware. [lawrence-related id=19371,19363,19354]

Zhaire Smith to miss Friday’s Blue Coats game with knee soreness

While the issue doesn’t appear serious, any missed time serves to delay Smith’s potential return to the Sixers.

The Philadelphia 76ers recently sent second-year guard Zhaire Smith to their G League affiliate Delaware Blue Coats to take part in its training camp and to get consistent minutes with the team as he struggled to crack the big club’s rotation. Now, it looks like that plan has had a bit of a hiccup.

Per Keith Pompey of the Inquirer, Smith will sit out Friday’s game against the Long Island Nets with what is being called “right knee soreness.” Pompey goes on to report that Smith with receive treatment on Friday before being re-evaluated on Saturday while stressing that the move is precautionary and that the organization doesn’t expect Smith to be out for long.

While it’s encouraging that this doesn’t appear to be a serious issue, it’s less than ideal that Smith is missing time due to the fact that the sole reason he was sent to Delaware was so that he could get consistent playing time with hopes of a return to the Sixers at some point.

Adding to the concern is Smith’s injury history. His rookie season was derailed by a foot injury and subsequent allergic reaction that caused him to only be able to play in six NBA games last season.

Hopefully, the issue is as minor as the organization is saying and Smith will respond well to the treatment and be back on the court quickly. The Sixers still hope Smith can be a part of their long-term plans, and every game he’s able to play in Delaware is a step towards making that a reality. [lawrence-related id=18783,18777,18005,17997,17543,17494]