2. Zhaire Smith
Zhaire Smith was drafted as a project. After spending one year at Texas Tech University, Smith entered the 2018 NBA Draft as a raw prospect with absurd athleticism. He’s only appeared in six NBA games in two seasons, partly due to his unrefined skill set and an injury-marred rookie season.
The Sixers are in win-now mode. With last season’s roster upheavals and this summer’s spending spree, it is evident that Elton Brand and company will make any move that they think will help the team win. That includes trading Smith, a former first-round pick acquired on draft day when the Sixers traded away their original pick, Villanova product Mikal Bridges.
If Smith is traded, it won’t be just him leaving town. His $3 million salary isn’t enough to acquire an impactful player, so he would likely be packaged with a teammate to match the salary of the player(s) the Sixers would be acquiring.
The 20-year old has a lot of potential, but if the choice comes down to his development or a player that can help the Sixers win now, Elton Brand won’t hesitate to ship Smith out of town.