76ers trade Matisse Thybulle to Warriors
The Sixers bring home Villanova legend and local hero Donte DiVincenzo. The Warriors guard has been through some difficult years injury-wise, but he has emerged as an important part of the second unit for Golden State. His salary matches almost perfectly with Thybulle’s salary, and he has an extra year on his deal before hitting free agency.
Golden State’s struggles this season have frequently been tied to the defensive end. With Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Jordan Poole making the nets sing from 3-point range, one could scarcely find a team better suited to covering up Thybulle’s offensive limitations. Thybulle’s best attribute offensively is his cutting, and no team cuts more prolifically and effectively than the Warriors.
In DiVincenzo, the Sixers are getting a battle-tested defender who is also shooting 39.2 percent from deep. No that long ago, DiVincenzo was one of the most coveted young role players in the NBA. He would be a much easier fit offensively with the Sixers’ current roster, and the “too many guards” concern doesn’t really land: Shake Milton is 6-foot-6 with a 7-foot wingspan, and DiVincenzo has enough size to guard up a position in most matchups. It shouldn’t be hard to find minutes for DiVincenzo, even with the bevy of guard talent on the roster.
The Sixers get a second-round pick for good measure. Reports suggest Thybulle is no longer worth a first-round pick in the eyes of opposing executives. While it’s not common for 25-year-olds to make the All-Defensive team twice, Thybulle is a unique case: he can scarcely be trusted in the playoffs and he’s currently playing just under 13 minutes per game, despite his surface-level impressive résumé.