Sixers wing Zhaire Smith has suffered a bone bruise in his left knee, per Derek Bodner of The Athletic (Twitter link). He will skip the NBA’s season restart, which kicks off on July 30 in Orlando. Bodner also notes that Smith should make a full recovery by the start of the 2020/21 NBA season.
According to Bodner (Twitter link), Smith began feeling pain in the knee ahead of the team’s restart training camp last week. The Sixers won’t be able to sign a substitute player, since injured players aren’t eligible to be replaced. After adding shooting guard Ryan Broekhoff, the team is currently carrying 17 players.
Smith, the No. 16 pick by the Sixers in the 2018 draft out of Texas Tech, has been hampered by lower-extremity injuries since entering the league. The 6’3″ shooting guard has played in just 13 of a possible 147 games.
Though Smith’s injury should not greatly affect the current Sixers roster’s depth in a season restart, the fact that he has suffered another season-ending malady after sporadic play in his sophomore campaign cannot be comforting to the Philadelphia front office.
Poor guy, he can’t catch a break (no pun intended) still think he can be a good player if he can get healthy.
Philly FO was stupid for Mikael Bridges for him on draft night! Mikael’s Mom worked for tge organization homeyown get and his career trajectory is great right now. Been very useful his first 2 years in the league. Very stupid move philly!!!!
They made the trade mainly for the 2021 draft pick because they thought that’s when the nba would eliminate one and done, they turned out perfect
You’re right. I stand corrected. I forgot about the pick!
*for trading Mikael