Top 7 prospects on the Sixers’ Summer League roster

1. Zhaire Smith

This one goes without saying. Smith is easily the most important prospect on the Sixers’ Summer League roster, with the potential to become one of the best two-way prospects in the 2018 class. He can even provide value next season.

At 6-foot-4, Smith is already an elite on-ball defender. His combination of length, athleticism and effort allows him to pester opposing ball-handlers, dissolving passing angles and forcing turnovers. He can also use his athleticism to impact plays elsewhere, like the occasional weak-side block.

On the offensive end, Smith will shine with better talent around him. His smart cutting isn’t rewarded as often as it should be by Summer League playmakers, often leading to fruitless forays to the rim. When Ben Simmons is passing the ball, that might (read: will) change.

Smith still has plenty of room left to grow, especially as a ball-handler. His athleticism and first step gives him upside as a go-to scorer, but he’s far from realizing that potential. He simply can’t handle the ball effectively at this stage in his development.

Shots haven’t been falling at a particularly high rate, but Smith has also shown significant progress as a shooter. His form is still a bit quirky, but it’s quicker and more fluid than it was at Texas Tech. He has hit a couple of pull-ups in isolation, which wasn’t common in college.

As one of the smartest players in the 2018 draft, Zhiare’s combination of physical and mental gifts is tantalizing. He needs to make improvements to maximize his production in the NBA, but the basic mold is in place.

Next: 5 potential two-way contract targets

Smith will forever be compared to Mikal Bridges, and the latter will probably produce more next season. But there is a good chance that Smith, 10+ years down the line, ends up having the superior career. The Sixers made the right choice at 16.