Zhaire Smith

The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed Zhaire Smith to a 10-day contract, the team announced.

The 6-3 guard has started in 32 games this season for the Cleveland Charge, averaging 12.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.28 steals per game while shooting .404% from the 3-point line in 33.4 minutes.

Prior to Cleveland, Smith played two seasons (2018-2020) with the Delaware Blue Coats, the Philadelphia 76ers’ NBA G League affiliate. He played in 39 games – 30 of which were starts – for the Blue Coats, averaging 11.7 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 26.6 minutes.

In 13 career NBA games with the Philadelphia 76ers during parts of the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 seasons, he holds career averages of 3.7 points and 1.2 rebounds in 11 minutes. Smith started in two of those games.

He also appeared in four games for the Oklahoma City Thunder during the 2023 NBA Summer League, averaging six points in 14 minutes.

The Phoenix Sun selected Smith as the 16th overall pick in the 2018 draft after one collegiate season at Texas Tech (2017-2018). He appeared in 37 games (21 starts) for the Red Raiders, averaging 11.3 points, five rebounds and 1.8 assists in 28.4 minutes and was selected to the All-Big 12 Defensive Team.

Smith will wear No. 19 for the Cavaliers, which was last worn by Damon Jones. (Fun fact: Cleveland radio personality Kenny Roda often referred to Damon Jones as “Amon Ones,” because he had no D and no J.)