Just because the Philadelphia 76ers are leaving a roster spot open for a 41-year-old forward who is taking weeks to make his final decision doesn't mean they can't scan the market for other veteran options in the meantime.
Before NBA free agency started back on June 30, the ex-Sixers first-rounder Matisse Thybulle was tossed out as a logical target for the team. The 29-year-old wing just wrapped up his third full season with the Portland Trail Blazers.
But as the days pass by, Thybulle is beginning to garner some interest from another team out west. According to The Stein Line's Marc Stein, the Los Angeles Lakers are "registering interest" in Thybulle. This development comes just days after the Lakers added Ziaire Williams to their roster.
Where does Matisse Thybulle go from here?
When the Sixers picked up Thybulle by trading to acquire the 20th pick in the 2019 NBA Draft to select him out of Washington, the former first-rounder quickly established himself as a defensive star.
In two out of his first three seasons with the Sixers, Thybulle was named All-Defensive. The offense was still a work in progress, but the Sixers seemed sure to have a strong player in Thybulle. However, the duo of Doc Rivers and Daryl Morey disagreed.
During the 2022-2023 NBA season, Thybulle averaged a career-low 12.1 minutes per game in 49 appearances. He averaged 21.8 minutes of action throughout his first three NBA seasons. After Rivers hardly utilized Thybulle, Morey traded him in a four-team deal, sending him to the Blazers.
The Sixers hoped that Jalen McDaniels would help the defense remain strong, while giving them an offensive upgrade in Thybulle's place. That swap ended up being a flop, but in hindsight, the Sixers didn't get fleeced by Portland.
The Blazers ended up matching Thybulle's three-year, $33 million offer from the Dallas Mavericks to keep him in Portland. Thybulle played in 65 games during his first full season with the Blazers, but appeared in just 45 games over the next two years. Injuries piled up, and Thybulle hit the free agency market with his value at an all-time low.
From Philly's perspective, it's difficult to take on a player who spent the past two seasons nursing setbacks. If Mike Gansey and the new front office would be willing to look past that and embrace the reunion, we already know what Thybulle brings to the table defensively. The offense didn't see a major shift, but the numbers are slightly intriguing in limited time.
While attempting 3.1 threes per game over the past 45 games he played, Thybulle averaged 41.1%. That's a notable jump from his 32.5% average in Philly.
Don't rule out a Thybulle reunion with the Sixers--but keep an eye on Los Angeles as a possible landing spot.
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