Remember Matisse Thybulle, the man who started his career on a high note with the Philadelphia 76ers by making two straight All-Defensive Teams in his first three seasons as a pro? Well, if he has completely slipped your mind, we probably cannot blame you. After all, he has been missing in action for almost two full years now.
Still with the Trailblazers, the team where the 76ers sent him to when they traded him in the middle of the 2022-23 season, Thybulle has seemingly vanished in thin air. He played a good amount of games for Portland just two years ago, but since then, it’s like injuries have swallowed him whole. Now, he is arguably a big liability for his team’s payroll.
At this rate, the former 76ers standout figures to end up being an undesirable “commodity” on the trade market. After all, he has very little to show for his deal for a couple of years now, and his continuous absence stands to persist given the lack of tangible updates on his actual condition. Put simply, time is running out for Thybulle.
Matisse Thybulle has struggled to stay on the floor since the 76ers traded him
Thybulle has appeared in just 19 total games since the 2024-25 campaign, but with Portland going under the radar, it seems like nobody outside Rip City has really noticed. Having said that, it is very likely that the Blazers front office is now aggressively shopping him in the trade market in view of their ample depth at the wing positions, which consist of younger players.
With the ex-Sixer still having a player option to return next season (which he will most likely pick up), it would be a tad difficult to phase him out by himself. The most viable route for Portland is to dangle him away as a salary-matcher.
Still, despite his injury history, Thybulle is undeniably a great asset to have. As he showcased in his time with the 76ers, he is an excellent on-ball and off-ball defender. He offers a lot of range with his defensive acuity.
Of course, his offense will always be a question mark. A career 34.5 percent three-point shooter, he is not a very reliable floor-spacer. He also cannot be trusted to make timely decisions with the ball in his hands due to his natural lack of playmaking.
Hopefully, Thybulle can return this season and remind teams that he can still be that guy on the defensive end. The 76ers know too well just how great he can be on defense, but his availability will always predetermine his capacity to exhibit his biggest strength.