Charlotte Hornets Sign Two-Time Sixer Ahead of 2023-2024 Season

Over the years, during good times and even bad times, the Philadelphia 76ers have had a bunch of players who have made an impact on the fans, even during brief stints. You can count Ish Smith as one of them, as he stood out during Philadelphia’s process era.

After joining a handful of teams following his two stints with the Sixers, Smith finds another home in the NBA, landing a deal to join the Charlotte Hornets ahead of the 2023-2024 NBA season.

Prior to the Sixers becoming playoff regulars, they were typically bottom-feeders in the Eastern Conference. Prioritizing draft compensation and gaining higher odds in the lottery for better picks to build for the future, the Sixers ran through a ton of players just to fill out a roster.

Smith was one of those prospects in 2015. After getting traded to the New Orleans Pelicans in February 2015, Smith was subsequently waived by the team on the day of the deal. Shortly after, he landed a contract with the 76ers.

That season, Smith appeared in 25 games. At the time, he achieved his career-high in scoring, posting 12 points per game while averaging six assists. The following season, Smith landed with the Pelicans for an actual run after getting signed and waived by the Washington Wizards following their preseason run.

After a 27-game run in New Orleans, Smith was traded. For the second time, he landed with the Sixers in exchange for two second-round picks. His second stint in Philadelphia resulted in career-best accomplishments once again.

Smith started in 50 games for Philadelphia, averaging 32 minutes of playing time. He thrived in his role, posting a career-high 15 points per game, along with collecting four rebounds and dishing out seven assists per outing. 

When Smith’s contract expired at the end of the season, he joined the Detroit Pistons via free agency. Smith played for the Pistons over the next three seasons before joining the Washington Wizards for back-to-back runs. During the 2021-2022 season, Smith split his year with the Hornets and the Wizards. Last season, he appeared in 43 games with the Denver Nuggets. Although recognized as an NBA journeyman, playing for 13 teams in his career, Smith’s path paid off with an NBA Championship in 2023.

After going unsigned throughout the majority of the offseason, the former Sixer is headed back to Charlotte. As a 35-year-old guard who’s been in the league since 2010 as an undrafted prospect, Smith brings a lot of wisdom to a young franchise like the Hornets.