Former 76ers First-Round Pick Lands Contract With Cavaliers

Zhaire Smith joins the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are bringing up one of their developmental prospects.

According to a press release, the Cavs are signing Zhaire Smith to a ten-day contract, giving the former first-round pick another shot in the big leagues.

Back in 2018, Smith’s professional career started with the Philadelphia 76ers. After a run at Texas Tech, he entered the NBA Draft and was selected 16th overall by the Phoenix Suns. On draft night, Smith found himself traded to the 76ers in what became a controversial move since the Sixers initially selected a local prospect in Mikal Bridges.

Not long after making the Villanova prospect the newest member of the Sixers, he was flipped to Phoenix in exchange for Smith. 

Like many former Philly draft picks at the time, Smith dealt with health concerns, which sidelined him for a while. Although he dealt with a fractured foot and a life-threatening allergic reaction, Smith managed to make it back on the court later in the year to debut.

During the 2018-2019 season, Smith made just six appearances for the Sixers. He averaged 19 minutes per game and even garnered two starts. During his rookie effort, Smith knocked down 41 percent of his field goals and 38 percent of his threes. He averaged seven points, two rebounds, and two assists.

Smith’s sophomore effort didn’t go much better. With minimal opportunities to play, Smith saw the court for just seven games, averaging five minutes in those matchups. During a year when the NBA shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Smith was not a part of the NBA’s restart in the bubble as he worked on recovering from minor setbacks. 

That following offseason, Smith was involved in a Sixers’ trade with the Detroit Pistons. In the deal that landed the Sixers Tony Bradley, Smith found himself sent to Detroit but waived not long after. 

The next month, Smith joined the Member Grizzlies, but only for a day. The plan was to have him suit up for Memphis’s G League squad, but his debut never came.

After some runs in the Summer League, Smith finally found an opportunity to play in the G League with the Cleveland Charge.

This season, Smith has appeared in 32 games for the Charge, averaging 13 points, four rebounds, and two assists. He’s shooting 40 percent from three as a starter in the G League.

There’s no guarantee Smith will find a long-term home in the NBA, but a ten-day deal should offer him a set of minutes in the NBA for the first time since he was a member of the 76ers. Ironically, his first game suiting up will be against the Sixers on Monday.