Keith Pompey: Four years later, Sixers’ draft-day trade of Mikal Bridges for Zhaire Smith looks worse than ever

PHILADELPHIA — Tuesday marks the four-year anniversary of a disastrous draft-day trade by the 76ers.

Back on June 21, 2018, the Sixers selected Villanova’s Mikal Bridges with the No. 10 pick in the NBA draft. And like the Sixers’ fan base, the Pennsylvania product could not have been happier.

But 38 minutes later, the Sixers traded Bridges to the Phoenix Suns for Zhaire Smith, the 16th overall pick. The Sixers also received the Miami Heat’s 2021 first-round pick in the trade. The Sixers were always interested in Smith for his elite athleticism, just not at No. 10. And his fate in Philadelphia was doomed shortly after it began.