Two Western teams emerge as Thybulle’s trading partners: report originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Matisse ThybulleaHis name has been mentioned in numerous future (and rumored) trade talks for over a year now, and after another season of offensive stagnation, he seems more agile than ever.
so will the sixersYoung star defender on the move this week as NBA free agency approaches and the team looks to transform its roster into a win-now contender?
If so, it sounds like there are two teams that have emerged as the main contenders for Thybulle’s services.
MORE: Sixers pick up Shake Milton’s option for 2022-23 season
Bleacher Report insider Jake Fischer reported Wednesday morning that the Sixers are “still investigating several trading options” to free up funds ahead of free agency, which kicks off Thursday night at 6 p.m.
Here is what Fischer heard on the latest moves from the Sixers front office:
“Philadelphia continues to be credited as the leader that lands Tucker on a much-talked-about deal that could run up to three years and $30 million. In addition to James Harden sacrificing some annual dollars, the Sixers are believed to be still exploring various trading options to gain financial flexibility. and upgrade their roster with top-notch lace numbers. The two teams most often cited as Matisse Thybulle suitors are Portland and Dallas.”
Interesting! The Blazers have been strongly linked to Thybulle as a potential trade destination for over a week – Investigator Keith Pompey reported around the NBA Draft that the Blazers were willing to make a direct trade for Thybulle, while the Sixers wanted a third team to join them – but I believe this is the first time we’ve tied Dallas with Thybulle. (If I’m wrong, let me know!)
It’s important to note that while the Sixers do indeed want to free up cap space, it doesn’t sound like Morey is willing to simply throw Thybulle away for nothing in the interest of saving dollars. He’s only netted $4.3 million this year, and as a 25-year-old defensive virtuoso with insane height and athleticism, he’s still a valuable asset too.
Here’s Paul Hudrick from Liberty Ballers to the pointfrom before the Draft – but I imagine the sentiment is the same now:
“While there appears to be legitimate smoke with Tucker, this is not a Tucker-or-bust situation for the Sixers. There are several more scenarios the team is exploring to improve rotation and depth prior to draft and the start of free agency. And pieces like Thybulle, Green and pick 23 may still be in play. But don’t expect the team to dump one of those assets without getting something in return.”
So what could the Sixers get in return from these teams?
To be honest, I don’t see many enticing options on Portland’s roster. If Morey can’t find an exciting return and is really looking for cash to sign PJ Tucker, the Blazers make perfect sense because of the trading exception they created in last winter’s Robert Covington deal with the Clippers. The Sixers can just send Thybulle to the Blazers, free up all that money, and be done.
With Dallas, I think it’s a good idea to add a Reggie Bullock: a reliable three-point shooter whose on/off defense numbers have been perfectly acceptable in recent years. He is 31 years old and the team would have him under contract for two years, $10 million against the cap this year and $10.4 million at the cap next year.
READ: So the Sixers were really interested in Kyrie Irving, right?
Maybe this closes that deal:
PHI receives: R. Bullock
DAL receives: M. Thybulle, F. Korkmaz
Could be! It’s a wild part of the NBA calendar: teams’ plans are constantly changing, they have 100 irons in the fire, and nothing is certain.
We’ll see what happens!