Philadelphia 76ers: 5 most important bench pieces, ranked

3. Zhaire Smith

Expect Smith’s value to rise as the season progresses. He will start the season in a battle for minutes — James Ennis, Matisse Thybulle, Shake Milton and others all looking for a slice. When the dust settles, however, Smith should be an important part of the rotation.

At 6-foot-4, Smith is the best on-ball defender in the second unit. He’s a top-percentile athlete, boasting elite lateral quickness and tremendous explosiveness. His ability to fight through screens is unique, while his 6-foot-10 wingspan can seriously bother opposing guards.

Smith’s skill set will become more important as the games become more important. In the postseason — when offenses slow down and single possessions become paramount — deploying Smith has tremendous value. He’s not someone who’s easily beaten one-on-one. He has the speed, length and strength to handle most assignments on the perimeter.

The Sixers’ on-ball defense has been a problem in seasons past. While there are valid questions about Tobias Harris’ fit at the 3-spot, having Ben Simmons, Josh Richardson and Smith in his repertoire should afford Brown plenty of options.

There are concerns about Smith’s 3-point shooting, but he looks confident. As long as he’s hitting spot-up jumpers at a 30+ percent clips, defenses should offer some level of respect. Smith’s ability to attack closeouts, cut to the rim and pass on the move seem to outweigh Thybulle’s slightly superior shooting stroke.