The Philadelphia 76ers have their full attention on the ongoing sweepstakes for LeBron James, but the job does not end there for the front office. No matter what happens there, it remains incumbent on the team's brain trust to polish the roster and make it as foolproof as possible. With the team still needing help on the defensive end, it is quite surprising that they have yet to register any public degree of interest in a reunion with Matisse Thybulle.
Thybulle could help the 76ers
Thybulle, who was a member of the 76ers for three-and-a-half seasons and clinched a couple of All-Defensive Team nods along the way, has seen a dry market for his services. Aside from recent reports pointing to the Lakers as a potential buyer, the defensive-minded wing has not made any kind of noise in the open market. Well, Philly has a role that would be good for him, but the front office seems to be glossing over that.
The Australian remains one of the best one-on-one defenders in the NBA, but his impact has become diminished thanks to his struggles staying on the floor. He has appeared in just 45 outings over the last couple of seasons, missing 119 games in the process. Injuries have certainly been an issue for the former 76ers.
The 76ers do not seem to be interested in a reunion with Thybulle
Sure, his injury concerns may be a huge turn-off for teams, including the 76ers, but he is not really expected to command a hefty price tag in the open market anyway. Heck, he is probably obtainable through a minimum contract at this juncture given his need to prove that he can stay healthy, so Philly not even showing an iota of interest in a reunion is a tad strange.
As constructed, the 76ers have a ton of talented scorers who make their living as shot creators. However, the team lacks complementary pieces, especially on the defensive end, who can take a lot of pressure off the star players.
Thybulle, who is a very capable 3-and-D guard with his improved shot (37.1 percent from deep over the last three campaigns) and signature defensive instincts, is someone who can give the 76ers a huge lift in those connective areas. The bench seems likely to be heavily reliant on their backcourt scorers in Anfernee Simons and Labaron Philon Jr., but having a defensive-minded stud like Thybulle would help balance things out and augment the second unit's impact.
As long as Thybulle remains available, the 76ers should at least explore the idea of reuniting with him. Of course, the LeBron race should remain their priority, but once that bidding war concludes, their former swingman should be on their radar. The fact that they seem to be overlooking him is strange, to say the least, given the circumstances.
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