Philadelphia 76ers: 2019 NBA Draft grades

Trading up to No. 20 pick: Matisse Thybulle

On its face, Ty Jerome seemed like the right selection at No. 24. The Sixers need immediate contributors, and Jerome could’ve provide that with his combo of on-ball playmaking and off-ball shooting and cutting.

But instead, Philly got spicier with this pick. Combining it with No. 33, the 76ers reportedly traded up to No. 20 to poach Matisse Thybulle of Washington from the Boston Celtics.

Thybulle will give Sixers a dose of what Robert Covington used to be, as a hawk on defense. Playing in a zone scheme at Washington definitely helped his “stock” numbers (steals plus blocks), but Thybulle is still a good defender at heart.

Even in a league where man-to-man defense is the standard, Thybulle has the tools and I.Q to be a disruptive stopper. His anticipation transcends any scheme, and his 7’0″ wingspan will make him a threat to cut off passing lanes and initiate the fast break at any time.

Offensively, Thybulle knows his role. He’s a good fit in any competitive setting because of that, as he can step in and contribute without record-scratching the offensive flow.

His 3-point percentage was poor last season (30.7 percent), but over his entire college career it was palatable (35.8 percent) with a legitimate sample (4.0 attempts per game over all four seasons). In addition, he shot nearly 80 percent from the free throw line across all four years at Washington.

Sans variance, he’s a capable shooter with good defensive tools and instincts. The Sixers need 3-and-D prospects, and the front office traded up to address this. Thybulle should contribute in a positive way almost immediately.

A calamity of trading up from No. 24 to No. 20, Carsen Edwards (taken 33rd overall) won’t don a Sixers uniform. He would’ve looked damn good in it, though.

Despite Edwards only being 6’0″, he’s a threat to shoot from anywhere. He had to manage Purdue’s offense due to their lack of other talent, but he’s a scorer at heart. An NBA team can cater to that much better than his college team could.

As for the value proposition, the Sixers did well. Using an early second to trade up four spots seems like a reach, but Thybulle is good value for a team that’s in search of two-way contributors.

Philly has a poor history of trading with Boston (see: Fultz), but context is key here. Thybulle will contribute immediately, even in a rotation run by known rookie hater Brett Brown. So long as the Sixers can bring everyone back, Thybulle can fit into a role and make the team better from day one. It’s not crazy to envision him starting for this team down the line.

Grade: A-