Cleveland Cavaliers Release Former NBA 1st Round Pick
Zhaire Smith most recently played in the NBA during the 2019-20 season when he appeared in seven games for the Philadelphia 76ers.
This summer, he signed a deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and played with them during the preseason.
However, the Cavs have now waived Smith (according to the NBA's official transactions page).
Via Keith Smith of Spotrac: "The Cleveland Cavaliers have waived Sharife Cooper, Pete Nance, Justin Powell and Zhaire Smith, a league source tells @spotrac.
The Cavs also signed and waived Rob Edwards, Aleem Ford and Devontae Shuler."
Smith was initially the 16th pick in the 2018 NBA Draft after one season of college basketball playing for Texas Tech.
He has played two seasons in the NBA (all with the 76ers) and has career averages of 3.7 points and 1.2 rebounds per contest while shooting 37.8% from the field and 31.6% from the three-point range in 13 regular season games (he has also appeared in two NBA playoff games).
In addition to the NBA, Smith spent time in the G League and has career averages of 11.7 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.0 assists per contest while shooting 50.3% from the field and 34.8% from the three-point range in 39 regular season games.
As for the Cavs, they will play their first game of the 2023-24 regular season on October 25, when they visit the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center in New York.
Last year, they were the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference and lost to the New York Knicks in the first round of the NBA playoffs.
