Early in the offseason, it seemed to be sensible for the Philadelphia 76ers to seek a reunion with Matisse Thybulle, who was a free agent then, in order to shore up their wing rotation and perimeter defense. Obviously, that never even came close to materializing. However, the team might have had a good reason not to pursue such a move given that the 29-year-old carries with him a great risk of injury.
Thybulle, who was part of the 76ers for nearly four seasons and made a couple of All-Defensive Teams in his stint with the franchise, spent the last four years with the Trail Blazers. However, he definitely flew under the radar in Portland, not because of his team's small-market stature, but because he was nowhere to be found for the most part due to his injuries.
The 76ers were wise to avoid a Matisse Thybulle reunion this summer
The former 76ers wing appeared in just 45 outings over the last two seasons. That means he missed 119 games in just a couple of years, a jarring number, which would definitely turn off a lot of teams. That might actually be the reason why he had to settle for a one-year, veteran's minimum contract with the Lakers this summer.
As good as Thybulle is as a defender, there is simply no reason for a team like the 76ers to go after another supposed rotation player whose availability is a toss-up on a nightly basis. He might have cost chump change to acquire, but even that pales in value if he will just keep missing games and be a non-factor eventually.
If there is one team that is especially fed up with the injury bug, it is the 76ers. As they charge ahead with their bid for the title this coming season, the prospect of assuming the risk associated with signing such an injury-prone guy is flat-out counterproductive.
Thybulle has a good chance of bouncing back with the Lakers, but Philly is no longer a team that can afford to play with the fire. Given their cap situation, even a minimum signing has a major impact on their financial flexibility. Had they signed their former player and he ended up getting bit hard by the injury bug, that would constitute a huge waste of a roster spot –– an empty calorie in their payroll.
As such, the front office did well avoiding a reunion with Thybulle. The 76ers may have fond memories of him, but unless he proves that he can stay on the floor, both camps will be better off away from each other.
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