In 2018, the Philadelphia 76ers made a draft night trade to acquire the 16th pick from the Phoenix Suns in a deal that sent Mikal Bridges to the desert. The Sixers picked Bridges at No. 10 overall. He appeared to be a perfect fit for Philadelphia, but the Sixers had other plans.
With that 16th pick, the Sixers took a gifted athlete from Texas A&M, Zhaire Smith. While Bridges has had a successful career with the Suns and the Brooklyn Nets, Smith has had a series of tough breaks with injuries and an allergic reaction during his rookie season.
He played 13 games for Philadelphia across two seasons and averaged 3.7 points and 1.2 rebounds for Philadelphia. He was traded to the Detroit Pistons in the 2020 offseason.
Smith is looking to make an NBA comeback. He will play for the Oklahoma City Thunder in the summer league.
Former Sixer guard Zhaire Smith will be playing for the Thunder in the summer league https://t.co/LDsfUq84yS
— Ky Carlin (@Ky_Carlin) July 2, 2023
The Thunder offer Smith an opportunity to work his way back into the league.