Philadelphia 76ers: 3 biggest underperformers from 2019-20 season

The Philadelphia 76ers could have really used these three players to be more productive this season. Who are they?

One player can’t find minutes off the bench. During stretches of the season, another player couldn’t hit the side of a barn if he tried. The third complained to the press about his role in the offense. What do they commonly share? All three Sixers had higher expectations going into the 2019-20 season. Unfortunately, it hasn’t turned out the way any of us had hoped.

Let’s explore the top underperforming players on the Philadelphia 76ers this season.

3. Zhaire Smith

When Zhaire Smith was drafted a few years ago, his athleticism brought praise and comparisons to Kawhi Leonard. The coaching staff definitely had a vision for how he could contribute even as a young player. If not for injury and a freak allergic reaction that sidelined him for extended periods of time, Smith would have possibly added minutes and productivity to his NBA resume by now. It hasn’t happened.

Forget that when he had a chance to play last year in the playoffs he looked lost and missed a wide-open layup. This season, he’s played only 32 minutes and scored eight points. His +/- is not even in the positive. He is at a -30. It is an understatement that this season has been a major let down for Smith. Nobody expected him to rack up huge numbers this year, but it was hoped that he would at least come off the bench and provide some defensive help in the second unit. With the emergence of Matisse Thybulle, that opportunity dissipated.

Struggling to earn minutes on the NBA court is probably as disappointing for fans as it is for him. Fighting through the ups and downs, going from sitting next to Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid on the bench to Marial Shayok and Haywood Highsmith in the G League must be hard. In this league though, pulling your weight is paramount and Smith has yet to prove himself to be NBA ready.