The Sixer Sense
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Zhaire Smith can contribute in the playoffs

By Christopher Kline

LUBBOCK, TX - JANUARY 31: Zhaire Smith #2 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders goes up for a shot against Nohamed Bamba #4 of the Texas Longhorns during the game on January 31, 2018 at United Supermarket Arena in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech defeated Texas 73-71 in overtime. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TX - JANUARY 31: Zhaire Smith #2 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders goes up for a shot against Nohamed Bamba #4 of the Texas Longhorns during the game on January 31, 2018 at United Supermarket Arena in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech defeated Texas 73-71 in overtime. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /
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The Philadelphia 76ers’ first rounder might find himself playing valuable minutes in the postseason.

Most people consider Zhaire Smith a project — somebody who won’t contribute regularly in year one. And, for the most part, that’s a reasonable line of thought. He’s raw, lacking the same offensive polish as those drafted around him. That doesn’t mean he can’t give the Philadelphia 76ers valuable minutes, though.

At 6-foot-4, Smith is the best athlete in the draft. He’s dunk-contest ready, but also has the length (6-foot-10 wingspan) and strength needed to defend multiple positions. He played power forward in college and is capable of defending all over the court in the NBA.

His aggressiveness, combined with a high-I.Q. approach to the defensive end, makes Smith a tantalizing two-way prospect. He still needs to develop in certain areas, especially on the offensive end, but that doesn’t take away from the skills that he can apply next season.

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In the Sixers’ second-round loss to the Celtics, defense at the point of attack was their foremost issue. J.J. Redick, Marco Belinelli (and even Robert Covington in stretches) were killed on switches. They weren’t able to stick with Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum off the bounce, lacking the lateral quickness and strength needed to contain more athletic wings.

That’s precisely where Zhaire enters the picture. He’s dogs opposing players on the perimeter, sliding his feet, fighting through screens and using his length to disrupt ball-handlers. Even if he isn’t in the regular rotation, it’s easy to see him earning spot minutes on elite-level wings for his defense alone.

Smith isn’t a total zero offensively either. His three-point stroke needs work, but he should be able to hit the occasional open look. He’s also an extremely smart player, something that doesn’t get recognized enough.

Despite his limited handles, Smith highly unselfish, making smart passes and operating within the flow of the offense. He can attack in straight-line drives, post up smaller guards, or swing the ball along the perimeter. In each scenario, he’s capable of dishing high-level passes.

With his athleticism, Smith can also be a dangerous scoring threat around the rim. He doesn’t create his own offense, but is one of the best cutters you’ll find on the wing. He intelligently sniffs out lanes to the rim and can finish lobs with ease, making him an easy target for Ben Simmons.

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Perhaps the most effective skill in Richaun Holmes‘ arsenal last season was his ability to finish above the rim, something that Simmons was consistently able to exploit. Giving one of the best passers in the game somebody who makes hard cuts and finishes above the rim will have its benefits.

Smith is also a terror in transition, where the Sixers often find themselves playing. He can overwhelm defenders on the fastbreak, powering through them or finishing with finesse around the rim. His ability to hang in midair and contort his body makes him an excellent finisher at full speed. Oh, and he can dunk. A lot.

Hustle plays are also a staple of Smith’s game. He gets after things defensively and is willing to dive on the floor when needed. Those little momentum plays can be significant, as evidenced by T.J. McConnell.

He also crashes the boards relentlessly. He won’t be an elite rebounder like he was in college, but he can create extra possessions offensively or grab-and-go on the defensive glass, which fits well in an up-tempo system.

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Simply put, Smith fixes some of the Sixers’ core defensive issues while providing glue guy attributes on the offensive end. He won’t get big minutes next season, but an athlete in his mold could very well find himself on the floor in the postseason — especially in matchups that are conducive to his skill set, like the Celtics.