2. Zhaire Smith
Having missed the majority of last season with a broken foot and a severe allergic reaction, Zhaire will look to bounce back in his sophomore season. During the Summer League, Smith showed the amount of potential he has, elusive footwork to get to the paint and brilliant court vision to hit the open man.
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Furthermore, his athleticism and defensive abilities to seize steals also give him an opportunity to become the Sixers’ primary sixth man option. Zhaire’s dominant Summer League performance has ignited the interest of many fans and critics, where he averaged 12.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.4 steals while logging 26.0 minutes over his five Summer League games.
Playing alongside a strong defensive unit would release a lot of pressure off the young guard, as his beginner level defence can be hidden behind the likes of Ben Simmons and/or Josh Richardson. Reduced responsibilities on the defensive end, will give Smith more freedom to play his own game on the offensive section.
Last season, in his six games for the Sixers, even with the limited playing time he showed signs of a future starter having averaged 6.7 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 0.3 steals, while shooting 37.5 percent from beyond the arc. Having also played in two playoff games (against the Raptors), Zhaire will look to use that as confidence heading into the 2019-20 season opener.