Detroit Exchanged Tony Bradley for Zhaire Smith
On November 23, 2020, Philadelphia traded guard-forward Zhaire Smith to Detroit for center Tony Bradley. The 76ers had selected Smith in a 2018 draft-night trade but his early NBA development was derailed by a serious allergic reaction and additional health problems. Detroit was willing to evaluate a still-young athletic wing in exchange for an experienced reserve center. Philadelphia needed interior depth behind Joel Embiid while adjusting its roster for a new coaching staff led by Doc Rivers. No future first-round pick or cash accompanied the direct player swap. It was a late offseason move designed to adjust two different positions, rather than a transaction to acquire a new leading perimeter scorer or a cornerstone big man.
Bradley Supplied Short-Term Center Minutes to Philadelphia
Bradley played 20 regular-season 76ers games in 2020-21, with a small number of starts when the rotation needed interior coverage. He scored efficiently near the rim and provided rebounding without demanding many offensive touches. Philadelphia later moved him to Oklahoma City in a separate March 2021 multi-team agreement, meaning his stay lasted only part of the season. The inherited Philadelphia C grade can be justified by reserve center availability at a time when the club was competing for the top of the Eastern Conference standings. His later NBA rebounds with other organizations do not become additional Philadelphia production. The trade did not suddenly deliver a new all-defense center, but it acquired a healthy, usable player who could cover minutes when Embiid rested or missed time.
Smith Never Played a Pistons Regular-Season Game
Detroit waived Smith soon after the November trade, and he did not make a regular-season appearance for the Pistons. His NBA playing career to that point had consisted of brief Philadelphia stretches after major health difficulties. Detroit’s C inherited grade is therefore mostly a valuation of the chance to assess a former first-round prospect and create roster flexibility, rather than actual new Pistons scoring. Philadelphia received the only direct on-court games from this agreement. The original 76ers Win label conflicts with equal C grades, making this a slight positional preference instead of a numeric grade victory. Neither club surrendered a premium draft pick in the 2020 transaction, and the most meaningful outcome was Bradley’s short 76ers reserve tenure versus Smith’s unconverted Pistons opportunity.
Final Verdict
76ers Win with equal inherited C grades. Philadelphia received Tony Bradley, who supplied twenty regular-season appearances and center depth before a separate 2021 move. Detroit acquired former first-rounder Zhaire Smith but waived him without any Pistons NBA games. Neither side received a lasting new starter.