2018 NBA Draft: 5 first round steals
By Max Holm
4. Zhaire Smith, Philadelphia 76ers (No. 16)
This might have been the biggest trade of the night after Doncic for Young early on. Mikal Bridges seemed like the Sixers’ guy until they traded him for Zhaire Smith.
Bridges was a wonderful fit, but Smith is three years younger and the best athlete in the draft. He dominated two trips to Philly in the pre-draft process and is a jumper away from star potential. Apparently Zhaire reminds Brett Brown of Kawhi Leonard. Or maybe he can be traded for Kawhi.
Zhaire Smith said that Brett Brown told him that he reminds him of Kawhi Leonard.
— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) June 22, 2018
What makes this even more of a steal is getting the unprotected 2021 first-rounder from Miami. Capped out with poor contracts, the Heat might be awful by then. It doesn’t hurt that the 2020 high school class is electric and high schoolers may be allowed to make the jump.
Brown or whoever made this pick was bold with this one. Even if Smith never hits his ceiling, getting these two assets for Bridges is near robbery.