Cavs Release Zhaire Smith

It marks the third move Cleveland has made at the end of the roster in the past two days. They also officially signed undrafted rookie guard Darius Brown II to a training camp contract (full post) and released point guard Jacob Gilyard (full post).

Smith, 25, is 6-foot-5 and is a former No. 16 overall pick in the NBA Draft. He came to camp with the Cavaliers last fall, before spending most of the year with the Cleveland Charge of the G League. He did receive a callup and signed a 10-day deal with the parent club in February.

In 47 games with the Charge last season, Smith averaged 13.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.8 assists, shooting nearly 40% on 3-pointers. He has appeared in a total of 13 NBA games, all with the 76ers, but is now likely headed back to the Charge.

Brown is 6-foot-2 and averaged 12.3 points, 6.5 assists and 4.3 rebounds last season with Utah State, appearing in 35 games and shooting nearly 40 percent on 3-pointers.

The Cavs return to preseason action on Wednesday with a road game against former coach J.B. Bickerstaff and the Pistons. Cleveland dropped its first two preseason games at home, first to the Bulls and then the Pacers.

Coach Kenny Atkinson suggested that the starters could see more minutes in the final two preseason games, both this week. They also visit Chicago on Friday, before opening the regular season next week at Toronto.

An Exhibit 10 contract is a non-guaranteed minimum-salary deal. It doesn’t count toward a team’s cap unless the player makes the final roster. It also can be converted to a two-way deal before the season begins or mean guaranteed money if a player is waived and then stays on the G League club for at least 60 days.