Philadelphia 76ers: 5 storylines to watch in 2019 Summer League

3. The defense

The Sixers have an elite defensive squad lined up. Not only for next season, but for Summer League. Let’s for a second assume this is the starting five: Norvel Pelle, Haywood Highsmith, Matisse Thybulle, Zhaire Smith and Shake Milton. Man, oh man.

Pelle has established himself as an athletic rim protector and shot-blocker in the G-League — something we saw glimpses of last summer in Vegas. Highsmith defends well off-ball and has the tools to switch across the position spectrum, something the Sixers value.

The real show, however, is on the perimeter. Smith was arguably the best defensive prospect in the 2018 NBA Draft. Thybulle topped the same category in the 2019 class. The Sixers will run out two high-level defensive prospects.

Smith thrives on-ball, possessing elite athleticism and lateral quickness. He fights over screens, stays in front of his man and seldom gives up space. He’s emphatic, on-point and showed very real flashes in six NBA games last season.

Thybulle will do his damage off-ball, gliding into passing lanes, racking up deflections and creating havoc. He’s a disrupter, with quick hands and even sharper instincts. He averaged 3.5 steals and 2.2 blocks last season at Washington. He’s the perfect defensive yin to Smith’s yang.

Milton rounds it out as a 6-foot-5 point guard with a 7-foot wingspan. He can also switch freely, giving the Sixers five players who, in theory, can survive Brett Brown’s switch-heavy defensive schemes.

There’s a chance the Sixers look to insert more offense and move one of the above players to the bench, but the point remains. Philadelphia might have the best defensive team in Vegas.