The 76ers expect injured rookie Zhaire Smith to be available to play in a game around Christmas, league sources say.
That's the target date for the 19-year-old guard after his Aug. 9 surgery to repair an acute Jones fracture of the fifth metatarsal in his left foot. One source added that the time frame is contingent on Smith's getting in shape and not having any setbacks.
Typically, the recovery time for a Jones fracture is six to eight weeks, but teams usually add two to three weeks for recovery time. In this case, the Sixers don't want to rush Smith back.