3 2022-23 NBA trade candidates who could use a fresh start elsewhere – Matisse Thybulle, Philadelphia 76ers
After a career year with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2021-22, Matisse Thybulle has found himself essentially out of the rotation to start this season. He is averaging a career-low 11.9 minutes per game and is rumored to be available via trade. Per Kyle Neubeck of PhillyVoice, teams have shown “some interest” in Thybulle, and the guard is expected to be featured in trade rumors throughout the year. While he is not the flashiest name, Thybulle could be an interesting trade target to keep an eye on as the season progresses.
Throughout his first three seasons, Thybulle earned All-Defensive honors twice. The 25-year-old has proven to be an outstanding defender, and that is his biggest boon. If a team is looking to add him via trade, it will be for that stout defense he provides. The drawback with Thybulle is his game on the offensive end, as he has averaged just 4.5 points on 31.9 percent 3-point shooting during his first four seasons. He does not bring much to the table offensively, but for any teams looking to strengthen their defense, Thybulle would certainly be a worthy target.
This past summer, it was reported by Jake Fischer, formerly of Bleacher Report, that two teams showing interest in Thybulle were the Portland Trail Blazers and Dallas Mavericks. Both teams made sense as suitors then, and they still make sense now. Dallas and Portland both rank in the top seven for defensive rating this season, per NBA.com/stats, and adding a piece like Thybulle would only make them more formidable on that end. Neither team would be overly reliant on his contributions offensively, and perhaps the guard could find his niche with some genuine minutes in a rotation elsewhere.