Zhaire Smith will pop next to NBA talent

By Christopher Kline | Jul 15, 2018

Zhaire Smith | Philadelphia 76ers (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) /

For Philadelphia 76ers fans, Summer League isn’t the best setting to appreciate Zhaire Smith‘s talent.

The Philadelphia 76ers stirred up controversy on draft night with their decision to trade Mikal Bridges for Zhaire Smith and a 2021 first-round pick. Bridges looks the part of a solid prospect and has put together better statistical performances in Summer League, only increasing the anguish on one side of the debate.

But Smith has flashed upside that Bridges simply doesn’t have — both with his athleticism and his skill set, though future refinement is still needed. It’s also worth noting that Zhaire is 19 years old. Bridges is 21. The latter has had two more years of development.

At 6-foot-4, Smith has elite defensive potential at the next level. He isn’t the biggest wing, but makes up for that with a 6-foot-10 wingspan and the athleticism needed to play bigger than his listed height.

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Guarding one through three with success, Smith is already a stud at the point of attack. He uses his length to swallow opposing ball-handlers, aggressively occupying their air space and choking off passing lanes.

He can also make impressive plays off the ball, jumping into passing lanes and chasing down weak-side blocks. He has given up some backdoor cuts in Vegas, but that’s something he can improve in time. Smith is the best perimeter defender in the draft, bar none.

On the offensive end, Smith has been much further along in his development than people anticipated. Ball-handling is still a struggle at times, but his quick first step allows him to get by defenders and generate space off the dribble.

His three-point stroke is also smoother than it was at Texas Tech, with semi-fluid mechanics and plenty of confidence from NBA range. He won’t be a knockdown shooter early on, but he should be capable of hitting the occasional spot-up three.

The best facet of Smith’s offensive skill set isn’t his shooting or off-the-dribble prowess, though. It’s his cutting, something that doesn’t get nearly enough recognition in Summer League.

Without NBA-caliber playmakers, an overwhelming majority of Smith’s timely backdoor cuts doing unrewarded. He often frees himself up for alley-oops or short-range finishes to no avail, instead watching lesser talent play iso-ball.

Smith fits Brett Brown’s offense seamlessly, even if his overall skill set lacks polish. He keeps both himself and the ball moving, registering quick decisions and making some high-level passes in transition.

That, combined with his off-ball movement, should make him an ideal fit with the Sixers’ up-tempo, pass-happy style. He’ll also been the beneficiary of NBA spacing, with players like J.J. Redick and Dario Saric opening up more driving lanes.

Oh, and one of the best playmakers in the league will be diming him up on a regular basis. Simmons is far more adept when it comes to finding backdoor cutters than Demetrius Jackson, and Embiid can make some nice post-up passes as well.

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At the next level, with additional development and an environment that’s more conducive to his skill set, Zhaire Smith will pop. The Sixers took him on as a project, but he has the athleticism and two-way ability needed to contribute next season.