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Sixers rookie Zhaire Smith cleared for full weight bearing

Also. Shake Milton has been cleared for limited contact.

Zhaire Smith dribbling during a practice in July.
Zhaire Smith dribbling during a practice in July.Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer

Zhaire Smith has been cleared for full weight-bearing on his left foot, the 76ers announced Friday.

The rookie guard has been sidelined after suffering an acute Jones fracture of the fifth metatarsal bone in the foot on Aug. 6. The 19-year-old, who had surgery Aug. 9, is expected to be available to play in mid-to-late December.

In other news, rookie combo guard Shake Milton (back stress fracture) has been cleared for limited contact. Another rookie guard, Landry Shamet (right ankle sprain), is fully clear to play.

Typically, the recovery time for a Jones fracture is six to eight weeks, but teams usually add two to three weeks. In this case, the Sixers don't want to rush Smith back. After all, they aren't depending on him to make an impact this season. He was expected to spend a lot of time with their G League team, the Delaware Blue Coats.

The Phoenix Suns selected Smith with the 16th overall pick in the June draft. He was immediately traded to the Sixers along with the Miami Heat's unprotected 2021 first-round pick for Mikal Bridges. The Sixers had selected Bridges out of Villanova with the No. 10 pick. The Sixers liked Smith all along, just not at the 10th spot.

He averaged 11.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.1 blocks and 1.1 steals as a power forward in his lone season at Texas Tech. He was named to the all-Big 12 newcomer team and to the conference's all-defensive team.