The Philadelphia 76ers have a storied draft history, highlighted by their selections of impactful players. In 2018, they held the 10th pick and chose Villanova's Mikal Bridges, only to trade him to the Phoenix Suns for the 16th pick, which they used to select Zhaire Smith from Texas Tech. While Bridges thrived in Phoenix, Smith faced significant challenges, including a severe allergic reaction that limited him to just 13 games over two seasons with the Sixers.

Ultimately, Smith was traded to the Detroit Pistons and has since struggled to find his footing in the league, signing Exhibit 10 deals with various teams. Despite these setbacks, he showcased his scoring ability in the G League, averaging 20.9 points for the Texas Legends in the 2024-25 season, suggesting that he is still working hard to reclaim a spot in the NBA.

Zhaire Smith, who last played in the NBA during the 2019-20 season with the Philadelphia 76ers, has been traded to the Texas Legends from the Cleveland Charge. The Legends acquired him in exchange for center Warith Alatishe. Smith's recent performance includes averages of 6.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 13 games played in the G League, with a shooting percentage of 45.9% from the field.

Originally drafted 16th overall by the 76ers in the 2018 NBA Draft, Smith has seen limited NBA action, with career averages of 3.7 points and 1.2 rebounds in just 13 games. He also made a brief playoff appearance during the 2019 season. The Texas Legends, an affiliate of the Dallas Mavericks, are currently vying for a playoff spot in the G League.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have finalized their roster ahead of the 2024-25 regular season by waiving four players following their last preseason game. This decision brings their roster down to 17 players, including three two-way players.

Among those waived are Jules Bernard, Jacob Gilyard, Pete Nance, and Zhaire Smith, each of whom had varying levels of participation during the preseason. The Cavaliers are now focused on their upcoming season opener against the Toronto Raptors on October 23.