Philadelphia 76ers connected to Matisse Thybulle as 2019 NBA Draft approaches
The Philadelphia 76ers might have a promise lined up with the 24th pick in the 2019 NBA Draft.
As the 2019 NBA Draft nears, speculation is beginning to run rampant. Most prospects are connected to multiple teams, and Matisse Thybulle is no exception. Washington’s defensive savant is expected to land somewhere in the 20s on draft night. Some have him as high as 21 to OKC, while some have him joining San Antonio at 29. It’s still a guessing game.
With that said, Thybulle has been connected to the Philadelphia 76ers by two well-sourced, credible draft sites. Both ESPN and The Athletic — spearheaded by Jonathon Givony and Sam Vecenie, respectively — project the 22-year-old forward to the Sixers at 24.
It has long been rumored that Thybulle received a promise, which would explain his decision to withdraw from combine activities. The Sixers are a natural fit and, according to Vecenie, haven’t been scratched from his list of potential destinations.
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Thybulle isn’t an elite shooter, but his fluid mechanics and decent percentages should translate in the NBA. He’s one of the best defenders in the 2019 class, offering the Sixers a 6-foot-5 wing who can play lockdown on-ball defense, wreak havoc in passing lanes and use his athleticism to crash the glass.
There are concerns about Thybulle’s collegiate situation. He played in a zone at Washington, which limited his opportunities to defend one-on-one in live competition. His lateral quickness, explosiveness and instincts should sooth those worries, though. At the very least, he’s a role player who can provide strong defensive minutes off the bench. Philadelphia would benefit from such a presence.
In recent seasons, the Sixers have thrived on size and physicality. Getting long, versatile bodies on the floor allows Brett Brown to hunt mismatches, switch screens and play an effective brand of basketball on both ends. Thybulle plays bigger than his listed 6-foot-5 height, has a 7-foot wingspan, and would add to Philadelphia’s limited wing depth.
Perhaps the biggest issue is an overlap in talent. Most expect Zhaire Smith to get a crack at minutes next season — another defense-first wing who doesn’t space the floor at a high level. While Smith thrives more on-ball and Thybulle more off-ball, there’s some degree of overlap there.
The Sixers would need to add more shooting and creation skills next to Thybulle, whether it be the 33rd/34th picks or free agents. Someone of the Cory Joseph ilk makes sense, as the Sixers can burn the mid-level exception and still re-sign Jimmy Butler and Tobias Harris.
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Thybulle will enter the draft as a top-20 prospect on my board. His defensive ceiling, NBA readiness and decent spot-up mechanics should appeal to Philadelphia, a team looking to enter title contention next season. Keep an eye out for the Washington senior on June 20.