Welcome Zhaire Smith

[gdog2004]

I dont know why people say Zhaire can't shoot or dribble. He looks pretty fluid in those videos. I know it is just practice but I am pretty sure someone like Covington or Thad Young(when he was with Sixers) could never do that. 2 guys who you KNOW cant dribble.

With all due respect, but nearly every NBA player can do stuff like this in an open gym. We saw clips of Covington shooting off the dribble jumpers all summer.

Zhaire looks quicker, more fluid than the Covington video you just posted.

[NoDopeOnSundays]

The odds of Zhaire ever being a productive scorer in this league are slim to none, IMO.

And if he does eventually develop a jumper, I would think it would be on his second contract that may or may not even be with us.

I'm just treating him as a 10-15 mpg stopper of scoring guards. Not even a full rotation piece. Just a guy with an A tool we can throw out there for small minutes to wreak havoc on scoring guards.

I think those are realistic expectations.

That's actually a great way to develop him though, it's much easier to develop a player like Zhaire on a good team than it is someone like Fultz that is ball dominant, all he needs to do is give effort on defense when he's on the floor for those 10-15mpg. You can play poor shooters and develop them as long as they are very good defenders (Roberson, Smart). I suspect Smith will be a better shooter than either of them and long term he could be like Smart since he did play center in High school, guys who play bigger than they are like that usually end up as quality players (Roberson PF in college, Kawhi PF in college).


What the Thunder have done with Ferguson is the template the Sixers need to do with Zhaire, just give effort and shoot the open three when it's there. Keep the game simple for him and I think he has the work ethic to develop into a player like Smart.

[tsmith]

Any updates on how far away he is?

[Chris76]

The odds of Zhaire ever being a productive scorer in this league are slim to none, IMO.

And if he does eventually develop a jumper, I would think it would be on his second contract that may or may not even be with us.

I'm just treating him as a 10-15 mpg stopper of scoring guards. Not even a full rotation piece. Just a guy with an A tool we can throw out there for small minutes to wreak havoc on scoring guards.

I think those are realistic expectations.

That's actually a great way to develop him though, it's much easier to develop a player like Zhaire on a good team than it is someone like Fultz that is ball dominant, all he needs to do is give effort on defense when he's on the floor for those 10-15mpg. You can play poor shooters and develop them as long as they are very good defenders (Roberson, Smart). I suspect Smith will be a better shooter than either of them and long term he could be like Smart since he did play center in High school, guys who play bigger than they are like that usually end up as quality players (Roberson PF in college, Kawhi PF in college).


What the Thunder have done with Ferguson is the template the Sixers need to do with Zhaire, just give effort and shoot the open three when it's there. Keep the game simple for him and I think he has the work ethic to develop into a player like Smart.

Zhaire is a good cutter off ball, especially with his athleticism. Simmons needs players that can move to open spots and Zhaire was good at that.

If Zhaire can contribute as well as Ferguson, he would be perfect when defense is needed more than Redick's shooting.

[rzzzzz]

couple of articles today mentioning what Smith could do for the playoff rotation. probably coincidence, though being fanatical, i got to wonder if there's any bit of buzz coming out of Delaware, beyond Elton's comment a couple of weeks ago.

[rulebook]

couple of articles today mentioning what Smith could do for the playoff rotation. probably coincidence, though being fanatical, i got to wonder if there's any bit of buzz coming out of Delaware, beyond Elton's comment a couple of weeks ago.

I would imagine that for him to be anywhere within sniffing distance of the playoffs, he needs to start playing in NBA games immediately. Doesn't seem like that's likely, so I doubt we'll see him in April.

I desperately want to be wrong...almost as desperately as the sixers need defensive help on the perimeter.

[kuclas]

Has smith even played a g league game? No point getting him up to nba level play at this point. If they wanted to play him. It would have been before the all star break.

[gdog2004]

Zhaire continuing the Sixers tradition of missing your entire first year with an injury that should have been only months...

[Winejk]

couple of articles today mentioning what Smith could do for the playoff rotation. probably coincidence, though being fanatical, i got to wonder if there's any bit of buzz coming out of Delaware, beyond Elton's comment a couple of weeks ago.

I would imagine that for him to be anywhere within sniffing distance of the playoffs, he needs to start playing in NBA games immediately. Doesn't seem like that's likely, so I doubt we'll see him in April.

I desperately want to be wrong...almost as desperately as the sixers need defensive help on the perimeter.

I remember when a seldom used rookie for the Detroit Pistons pretty much closed out two victories over the Sixers in the playoffs in 2003. During the regular season he played 42 games (5 starts), averaged 10 minutes per game and had unremarkable numbers across the board.

In the playoffs he played in 15 games (3 starts), averaged 25 minutes and posted sizable gains in all his stats across the board. Like I said he pretty much closed out two wins against the Sixers because McKie, Snow et al could not match up with him.

The next season he was a regular in Detroit's lineup.

Man, I hated Tayshaun Prince. He killed the Sixers seemingly every time he played against the Sixers. He was a decent 3 point shooter, but against the Sixers I think he hit everyone one of them.

Anyway, it just goes to show that while certainly not likely, there is a sliver of hope that Zhaire could make a contribution this year.

[rulebook]

couple of articles today mentioning what Smith could do for the playoff rotation. probably coincidence, though being fanatical, i got to wonder if there's any bit of buzz coming out of Delaware, beyond Elton's comment a couple of weeks ago.

I would imagine that for him to be anywhere within sniffing distance of the playoffs, he needs to start playing in NBA games immediately. Doesn't seem like that's likely, so I doubt we'll see him in April.

I desperately want to be wrong...almost as desperately as the sixers need defensive help on the perimeter.

I remember when a seldom used rookie for the Detroit Pistons pretty much closed out two victories over the Sixers in the playoffs in 2003. During the regular season he played 42 games (5 starts), averaged 10 minutes per game and had unremarkable numbers across the board.

In the playoffs he played in 15 games (3 starts), averaged 25 minutes and posted sizable gains in all his stats across the board. Like I said he pretty much closed out two wins against the Sixers because McKie, Snow et al could not match up with him.

The next season he was a regular in Detroit's lineup.

Man, I hated Tayshaun Prince. He killed the Sixers seemingly every time he played against the Sixers. He was a decent 3 point shooter, but against the Sixers I think he hit everyone one of them.

Anyway, it just goes to show that while certainly not likely, there is a sliver of hope that Zhaire could make a contribution this year.

I remember that. Great example. Let us pray.

[youngcrev]

I'm not ruling him out with Ennis and Simmons being his competition for minutes. If he can defend, run the floor, and hit open shots at even a below average rather than bad rate, he could play immediately.

[PhillyPhilly]

So word is he practiced with the sixers squad today and will now join up with the bluecoats squad for their game tonight. Would be great to see him play but nothing is confirmed right now.

[gdog2004]

So word is he practiced with the sixers squad today and will now join up with the bluecoats squad for their game tonight. Would be great to see him play but nothing is confirmed right now.

good to know some progress is being made.

[kriss73]

Read on Twitter

[PhillyPhilly]

LOL well damn, the curse strikes again

[Stanford]

That's a real bummer. Was hoping we'd have him for at least a couple minute stretches in the playoffs.

[LloydFree]

Once he got sick and lost the weight, I didn't expect him to play anyway. He was already young for his class either way. I wouldn't have expected much from a 19 year old on a playoff roster.

[NoDopeOnSundays]

That's a real bummer. Was hoping we'd have him for at least a couple minute stretches in the playoffs.

Playoffs is asking too much, but they should give him a few minutes per game for the last 10 games of the season. I'm never a fan of a guard losing development time, with larger players it's ok, but with guys his size even getting him a small taste of NBA action should be a priority.

[Stanford]

That's a real bummer. Was hoping we'd have him for at least a couple minute stretches in the playoffs.

Playoffs is asking too much, but they should give him a few minutes per game for the last 10 games of the season. I'm never a fan of a guard losing development time, with larger players it's ok, but with guys his size even getting him a small taste of NBA action should be a priority.

I dont think throwing him out there for 4-5 minutes a game to annoy an opposing guard is asking too much considering what the bench looks like.

[mithrandir17]

That's a real bummer. Was hoping we'd have him for at least a couple minute stretches in the playoffs.

Playoffs is asking too much, but they should give him a few minutes per game for the last 10 games of the season. I'm never a fan of a guard losing development time, with larger players it's ok, but with guys his size even getting him a small taste of NBA action should be a priority.

I dont think throwing him out there for 4-5 minutes a game to annoy an opposing guard is asking too much considering what the bench looks like.

Yeah, Zhaire can take the minutes of either Ennis or JSimmons. He can't be worse than those two.