Welcome Zhaire Smith

[ankle420breaker]

Zhaire didn't drop 30 in his first summer league game? We should probably just waive him now.

It's not just that, ankle breaker four twenty; Mikal Bridges scored more than 13 points (less than 15), so this trade is immediately a failure and the Sixers are the joke of the league. Woe.

Fire Brett Brown

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[Sixerscan]

Zhaire didn't drop 30 in his first summer league game? We should probably just waive him now.

It's not just that, ankle breaker four twenty; Mikal Bridges scored more than 13 points (less than 15), so this trade is immediately a failure and the Sixers are the joke of the league. Woe.

Fire Brett Brown

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Take it up with his boss, Brett Brown.

[76ciology]

I’m OK with Zhaire. Not hyped but I see him being a good NBA player and a bit of a chance to be more than a good NBA player.

He’s just not yet developed with his skillset and reads while he is getting used to NBA quality opponents.

Biggest adjustment IMO for him is the NBA caliber length and athleticism. He looks very short to be a wing and even for a SG. I find him more effective as a combo guard and see upside with his ball handling.

In the future, I see Fultz starting at PG then have him as his back-up. But for now JJ should start at PG then have Fultz as back-up. Barring any trades and I’m referring to position on D.

I find Zhaire to be more effective in his second game because he has ball in his hand.

First game, he wasnt getting any separation playing off ball and being defended by longer and close to as athletic defenders.

[76ciology]

Ive post it before.

If Zhaire reached his ultimate upside. He’s gonna be a guy that has very good shooting touch that can shoot over his opponents. While staying close at him allows him to drive past you with his on ball speed and explosiveness. He should also be good off PnR with relying on pull up mid range jumpers. Similar style with Oladipo, Mitchell or Kawhi.

He needs to expand his game by improving his guard skillset. He wont get easy buckets with non zone defense and non NCAA caliber opponents just by off ball

But big IFs with his development.

Defensively, I’d really just prefer him defending PGs and shutting them down like Avery Bradley while providing weakside rim protection. I don’t like him defending SGs and SFs.

[WMDman]

Looks like Zaire showed some upside last night

[Kobblehead]

Zhaire was drafted because he's an elite athlete with a malleable personality that displayed high basketball IQ. Brett feels that he can mold him into a great player.

We just gotta be patient and see what Brett can do.

Personally, I'd rather draft guys with star traits instead of relying on coaching alchemy, but I'm giving Brett the benefit of the doubt.

[LloydFree]

Zhaire was drafted because he's an elite athlete with a malleable personality that displayed high basketball IQ. Brett feels that he can mold him into a great player.

We just gotta be patient and see what Brett can do.

Personally, I'd rather draft guys with star traits instead of relying on coaching alchemy, but I'm giving Brett the benefit of the doubt.

Being an elite athlete is a star trait.

[smittybanton]

Zhaire was the only bright spot in a horrible game last night. His handle and playmaking are far above what I thought coming in. He is not just 3&D.

Point guard play was absolutely horrid, atrocious... At least Isaiah Canaan gave you threes while not setting up any teammates.

[gdog2004]

Zhaire kind of meh so far. BUT, it's going to take time with him. Too bad we can't see Shamet.
But...summer league. Wasn't Lonzo Ball the MVP of last years summer league ? Still...3 guys who I think will be good for sure.
Wendell Carter, Kevin Knox (damn u Knicks), and JJ. Also the kid from Cleveland.

[smittybanton]

Not only do they look alike, Zhaire's game reminds me of John Starks more than I thought it would.

[bball4life]

He looks like he belongs. His hops are ridiculous and he is showing signs of being an elite defender. I think he’s going to be a really good player in a year or two.


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[LloydFree]

Zhaire was the only bright spot in a horrible game last night. His handle and playmaking are far above what I thought coming in. He is not just 3&D.

Point guard play was absolutely horrid, atrocious... At least Isaiah Canaan gave you threes while not setting up any teammates.

Yeah, Demetrius Jackson is shockingly bad for a player with 2 years NBA experience.

[Kobblehead]

Being an elite athlete is a star trait.

Nah, I don't think star traits can be measured or timed. They're distinguished on the court when the player has the ball in his hands.

[LloydFree]

Being an elite athlete is a star trait.

Nah, I don't think star traits can be measured or timed. They're distinguished on the court when the player has the ball in his hands.

You are correct. Elite ballhandling is a staple trait of star players. I also prefer players with elite ballhandling ability, that's why I would have selected Troy Brown over both Mikal Bridges and Zhaire Smith. Both are role players because they can't dribble. But once they decided they were going to spend the pick on a role player, I preferred the more exposive athlete. It gives him the better chance at being more than a role player. Being an elite athlete gives you a better opportunity to succeed against other elite athletes. Ball handling rarely becomes star quality, once you're in the league. But it can happen. Elite athleticism can't be developed.

[Sixerscan]

Zhaire is averaging more points per game than Bridges.

[ivysixer2000]

Well, on a team desperate for someone to handle the ball, we did seem to be looking for someone else to join the non-ball handling crew so we got our man. I don't like it cause all it does is put more pressure on Ben without a jumper to be the only ball handler on the court, yet it seems BB just doesn't see that.

Sure we will have more of Fultz to handle that this season, which is why we need him, but I was hoping to have more than 1.5 guys on the team that can break someone down on the dribble. I do like that Zhaire can actually finish an alley op, unlike most of the team last year.

[smittybanton]

Zhaire is averaging more points per game than Bridges.

Plus the Suns simply stick Bridges in the corner to catch and shoot. I feared we would be doing the same with Zhaire, especially after he didn't touch the ball the first five minutes or so in game one. But he's shown superb playmaking skills for a 19 year old "former center". Nowhere near KJ McDaniels level ineptitude. Even faked the mess out of a defender with a no look pass. Made some other plays for his teammates. His assists were not simple border swings.

my foot's on the gas.

[rzzzzz]

i only stayed up for the first half, but i like the kids motor. he kept breaking open towards the rim, regardless of no one rewarding him with pass. i think we got guys on the roster who can handle the occasional lob. some remnant of a handle, enough to move the ball to open team mates and gain enough separation to launch some shots. his shot was hardly smooth, but the mechanics don't look broken. hoping that repetition in his new role will grow sufficient comfort. saying his defense was better than the first game is not much praise. still too unfamiliar with the position to apply his athleticism effectively, though he was starting to get a hand in trying to the strip the ball more in the open court. definitely a work in progress. (work the process?)

[smittybanton]

when folks talk about luka doncic having hte body to play with grown men, that applies to zhaire smith too. he fights so easily through screens. and we have absolutely nobody, NOBODY, on the team who tries to go to the rim through people like he does. richaun, maybe.

we had no one to hit him on his back cuts. ben is going to find him over and over and over again. fultz better get his ish together.

..

furkan shot horribly. but showed again he can get anywhere he wants to off the dribble without it getting taken. wish he wanted to swap more sweat inside. he has the hops. he gets andones off his shot. doesnt seem like he wants to get sent to the floor or swap sweat getting to the cup.

...

waiting for the other shoe to drop. right now the 2nd unit would probably be maxx, fultz, chandler, bjelly, johnson.
leaves no minutes for zhaire, furk or bolden, much less shamet. i thought justin anderson showed well against dwyane wade and deserved more minutes. waiting for a woj bomb...

[LordCovington33]

Zhaire is averaging more points per game than Bridges.

Hope this doesn't turn into one of those tiresome season-long Fultz-Tatum debate used to justify the pick. I wanted Bridges at the time, but no point dwelling on the past. I like what I see with him. Looks to be a nice addition to the team.