Philadelphia 76ers: 3 goals for Zhaire Smith's rookie season

Philadelphia 76ers: 3 goals for Zhaire Smith’s rookie season

By Derek Hryn | Oct 16, 2018

BROOKLYN, NY- JUNE 21: Zhaire Smith is photographed after being selected number sixteen overall during the 2018 2018 NBA Draft on June 21, 2018 in Brooklyn, NY. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Mike Lawrence/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images) /

3. Play this season

It would come as no surprise if the conservative 76ers front office reaches the end of the 2018-19 season before green-lighting a Smith debut, as it’s happened a few times before.

Perhaps new Sixers general manager Elton Brand is ready to move forward with a different approach in developing his young rookies, as he begins a rookie season of his own.

Throughout the Brian Colangelo era, not including the dramatic conclusion that ultimately led to his resignation, there were clear signs of intermittent activity occurring within the organization.

Last year, for example, the team’s No. 1 overall draft pick, Markelle Fultz, appeared in the first four games of the 2017-18 season but then sat out with an apparent shoulder injury until the last 10 games of the regular season.

It was later discovered that Fultz played through the discomfort, which led to him drastically altering his jump shot. Colangelo suspiciously addressed the debacle throughout the year, but never actually clarified what was transpiring behind the scenes. Though the whole truth may never be established, Fultz is now set for a breakout season in 2018-19.

Smith now faces what could be a similar situation, but hopefully Brand is able to dodge the mistakes that have been made by his predecessors and the Sixers’ latest rookie gets to take to the court fully healthy.