Philadelphia 76ers: 2019 NBA Summer League standouts

Matisse Thybulle

Elton Brand traded up to snag Matisse Thybulle at 20th overall in this year’s draft, and Thybulle’s performance this summer displayed why Elton felt such a need to get him.

Defense was Thybulle’s calling card at Washington, and it certainly showed in game action in Vegas. He was so good at attacking passing lanes and anticipating plays, constantly making teams pay for lazy passes and instantly turning them into fast break opportunities. He can swallow up a guy’s airspace and also made smart, disciplined closeouts on the perimeter.

Much like Zhaire, Thybulle exhibited a great deal of confidence in his 3-point shot this summer. It was the biggest concern people had about him going into the draft, as he shot just 30.5 percent from 3 his senior season despite finishing his collegiate career as a 35.8 percent shooter. The way he shot the ball in Summer League should quell at least some of those worries. He looked very comfortable knocking down spot-up (especially from the corner) and catch-and-shoot threes. He didn’t rush things and his overall form looks very smooth.

He will have to address his tendency to have a somewhat loose handle at times, though. While he showed that he can effectively drive to the hole when guys close out on him, there were a few instances when defenders easily poked the ball away and forced turnovers. While I don’t think it will make or break his playing time, he’s going to have to tighten up his ball handling to make life easier for him.

Thybulle certainly appears to have the makeup of a Robert Covington starter-pack but with much more athleticism. If he can consistently knock down shots from long range and play disruptive defense when in the game, he could be a very valuable weapon to have off the bench this upcoming year.