76ers Rookie Zhaire Smith Suffered Foot Injury, Will Undergo Further Evaluation

The Philadelphia 76ers announced Tuesday that rookie swingman Zhaire Smith suffered a foot injury Monday during development camp in Las Vegas. 

The Sixers added that Smith will return to Philadelphia to have his injury evaluated.

The Phoenix Suns selected Smith with the No. 16 pick in the 2018 NBA draft before they traded him to Philly along with the Miami Heat's 2021 first-round pick for Mikal Bridges.

In his one season at Texas Tech, Smith averaged 11.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game while shooting 55.6 percent from the field.

Smith was named to both the Big 12 All-Defensive Team and Big 12 All-Newcomer Team en route to leading the Red Raiders to the Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament.

Injuries have been commonplace for Philadelphia's first-round picks in recent years.

After the Sixers took Joel Embiid No. 3 overall in 2014, he missed each of his first two NBA seasons with foot injuries. Ben Simmons missed his entire rookie campaign with a foot ailment after the 76ers took him No. 1 overall in 2016. Philadelphia took guard Markelle Fultz No. 1 overall last year, but a shoulder injury limited him to 14 regular-season games.

Dario Saric, Robert Covington and Wilson Chandler will likely all see significant time at small forward in 2018-19 regardless of Smith's status, while JJ Redick is once again in line to start at shooting guard.