This season has made one thing abundantly clear — Zhaire Smith needs time. The Philadelphia 76ers‘ 2018 first-round pick has appeared in 13 NBA games up to this point in his career. There is naturally some uncertainty about Smith’s long-term outlook as a result.
It’s never ideal to have a near-lottery pick spend most of his first two seasons injured or in the G-League. Smith was a prospect of relative acclaim, and many draftniks fell in love with his ceiling. There was always work to be done, however, and the Sixers have rightfully taken a slow and measured approach to Smith’s development.