CLEVELAND – The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed guard Zhaire (zhi-EAR) Smith to a 10-day contract, Cavaliers President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts.
Smith (6-3, 205) has appeared in 32 games (all starts) this season for the Cleveland Charge, the Cavaliers’ exclusively owned and operated NBA G League affiliate, averaging 12.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.28 steals and shooting .404 percent from the three-point line in 33.4 minutes. Prior to Cleveland, Smith played two seasons (2018-20) with the Delaware Blue Coats, the Philadelphia 76ers NBA G League affiliate. He played in 39 games (30 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 (two starts) with the Philadelphia 76ers during parts of the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons, he holds career averages of 3.7 points and 1.2 rebounds in 11.0 minutes. He also appeared in four games for the Oklahoma City Thunder during the 2023 NBA Summer League (Las Vegas and Salt Lake City), averaging 6.0 points in 14.0 minutes.
Smith was selected by the Phoenix Suns as the 16th overall pick in the 2018 draft after one collegiate season at Texas Tech (2017-18). He appeared in 37 games (21 starts) for the Red Raiders, averaging 11.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 28.4 minutes and was selected to the All-Big 12 Defensive Team.
Smith will wear number 19 for the Cavaliers which was last worn by Damon Jones.