The Philadelphia 76ers' center situation is far from ideal. It's hard to complain about a team that's relatively healthy and thriving with a 6-1 record through two weeks, but there won't be any looking the other way over here.
Since the summer, the 76ers have had a depth issue at the center position, and it only got worse during the team's first preseason action, when Ariel Hukporti suffered a season-ending Achilles injury.
At some point, the position will have to be addressed, so the 76ers don't have to play musical chairs with Adem Bona and a bunch of forwards. Unless Tacko Fall debuts and stuns the 76ers, they'll have to treat some of these early fall games as auditions for possible trade acquisitions. Why not start on Monday night with the Chicago Bulls center, Jalen Smith?
Keep an eye on No. 25
Smith is no stranger to the 76ers. The former 10th overall pick out of Maryland in 2020 has had 16 appearances against the team. He played against the 76ers twice as a member of the Phoenix Suns. From 2022 to 2024, he played for the Indiana Pacers.
On December 8, 2024, Smith faced the Sixers as a member of the Bulls for the first time. He has played them five times since that first matchup. It's unclear if the 76ers recruited Smith differently in the past or not--but if they didn't consider his services before--it's time to do so.
The 76ers don't need another center to be Joel Embiid. There aren't many bigs in the league who can match that value of a three-level scorer and an elite defender. The Sixers need reliable rim protection and consistent rebounding. If they are a stretch, then that's always a plus in today's NBA.
Throughout his seven-year career, Smith has averaged 17.0 minutes on the court. He produced averages of 8.8 points, 5.6 rebounds (11.8 per 36), and nearly 1.0 block per game. He's far from a high-volume three-point shooter, but has knocked down 34.4% of his 3.9 threes per game over three years with the Bulls.
Smith has a slim chance of missing Monday night's game. He is on the injury report due to a finger sprain, but he's probable. Since the Bulls are likely going to miss Nic Claxton again, Smith could pick up another start. That would be a frequent role in Philadelphia, depending on Joel Embiid's health. After Monday's game, the Bulls and the Sixers will meet again in Chicago at the end of the week for a 3:30 PM ET tip.
This season, Smith is making $9.4 million with the Bulls. He'll be an unrestricted free agent in the summer. Considering he's on a contract year with a rebuilding franchise, there is a strong chance the Bulls will be open for business with Smith. Depending on what the Sixers see over the next couple of games, they should express their interest in the 26-year-old big man.
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