Philadelphia 76ers: Why fans shouldn’t lose faith in Zhaire Smith

As Zhaire Smith becomes the latest rehab project for the Philadelphia 76ers heading into this season, here’s why fans should know better than to question the outcome.

The injury bug has bitten the Philadelphia 76ers once again, with Zhaire Smith being the latest victim.

The 76ers guard/wing underwent successful surgery on his left foot Thursday, according to a report from Sarah Todd of Philly.com. Smith sustained the injury Monday while attending a basketball camp in Las Vegas.

Doctors concluded that the diagnosis, an acute Jones fracture, is likely to prolong Smith’s NBA debut until at least November.

Judging by the Sixers’ previous methods of coping with these situations, however, it is difficult to predict when they will end up giving him the go-ahead.

While the injury is unfortunate, to say the least, there is no reason to hit the panic button just yet.

The team made one of the more notable trades during the 2018 NBA Draft back in June, acquiring Smith (selected by the Phoenix Suns at No. 16) and an unprotected 2021 first round pick (via Miami Heat) for their short-lived pick of Mikal Bridges at No. 10.

Smith,19, will now be the focal point of the Sixers’ rehab assignments, just like his predecessors in recent years. It’s an issue that has nearly become a tradition in Philadelphia, and one that many fans are beginning to find quite vexing.

On a more positive note, this should likely be just a minor speed bump in what looks to be a long and successful career for Smith.

He showed bright flashes during his NBA Summer League tenure, and displayed skills that will correlate ideally to the Sixers’ style of play when he makes his eventual return.

Although the Texas Tech product was drafted as a raw prospect for his tentativeness offensively, his athleticism and defensive upside would have instantly awarded him time on the floor, even among the Sixers’ talented guard and wing rotations.

The organization is no stranger to playing the waiting game with its young talent in the past, and it seems to have paid off. Two of those assets were Joel Embiid, an NBA All-Star starter, and Ben Simmons, the reigning Rookie of the Year.

Simmons missed his entire first season in 2016-17 with the same Jones fracture injury as Smith, but that was at a time where the Sixers’ record and opportunity to win games were both substantially lower.

In Smith’s case, however, he is starting his NBA career on a roster that just finished with a total of 52 wins last season. As a high-ceiling prospect, it would be the most sensible option for the team to have him play in as many games as possible once healthy, rather than discarding crucial time in his development. There also isn’t the same massive degree of pressure on him, as there would’ve been had Simmons or Embiid played in their first seasons.

Head coach Brett Brown envisions Smith to be a player who can facilitate a balanced level of offense and defense when he finally makes his appearance this season. On the other hand, he could turn out to be the star they’ve been searching for, assuming that he doesn’t suffer any future setbacks.

Brown’s excitement and optimism in Smith’s Kawhi Leonard-esque craft surely won’t change throughout his absence this season.

If injuries haven’t given him a scare in the past, they definitely shouldn’t now.

Depending on the team’s status when it comes time for him to be back in full swing, Smith could give them an instant boost just as the season’s key games start rolling in.