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With the NBA draft right around the corner, now is the time to look at some past drafts and see what the Philadelphia 76ers have done in their history. The Sixers have selected some big-time players in the past who have become an important part of the fabric of the franchise's history.
The Sixers entered the 2018 draft in a fantastic position. After making a playoff run in the 2017-18 season led by Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, they held the No. 10 pick in the draft with the chance to add another top talent.
With that selection, the Sixers picked Mikal Bridges out of Villanova. However, they flipped him to the Phoenix Suns for the No. 16 pick which they then used on Zhaire Smith from Texas Tech. It was a surprising move when considering Bridges' skill set fit like a glove with Embiid and Simmons and that he was a local product.
Smith suffered an unfortunate allergic reaction in his rookie season which limited him to just six games played and then he played just seven games in his second season before he was sent to the Detroit Pistons in the 2020 offseason.
With just 13 career games under his belt, Smith is currently working on getting back into the NBA. He most recently played for the Texas Legends in the G League in the 2025-26 season. Bridges, meanwhile, has been to the finals twice. He helped the Phoenix Suns make it in 2021 and then won a title with the New York Knicks in 2026.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Philadelphia 76ers draft rewind: Moving Mikal Bridges for Zhaire Smith
Continue reading...
The Sixers entered the 2018 draft in a fantastic position. After making a playoff run in the 2017-18 season led by Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, they held the No. 10 pick in the draft with the chance to add another top talent.
With that selection, the Sixers picked Mikal Bridges out of Villanova. However, they flipped him to the Phoenix Suns for the No. 16 pick which they then used on Zhaire Smith from Texas Tech. It was a surprising move when considering Bridges' skill set fit like a glove with Embiid and Simmons and that he was a local product.
Smith suffered an unfortunate allergic reaction in his rookie season which limited him to just six games played and then he played just seven games in his second season before he was sent to the Detroit Pistons in the 2020 offseason.
With just 13 career games under his belt, Smith is currently working on getting back into the NBA. He most recently played for the Texas Legends in the G League in the 2025-26 season. Bridges, meanwhile, has been to the finals twice. He helped the Phoenix Suns make it in 2021 and then won a title with the New York Knicks in 2026.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Philadelphia 76ers draft rewind: Moving Mikal Bridges for Zhaire Smith
Continue reading...
