Sixers Not Likely to Trade Former First-Rounder: Reporter

Doc Rivers

Getty Head coach Doc Rivers of the Philadelphia 76ers

Even though Philadelphia 76ers shooting guard Matisse Thybulle’s name has come up in trade rumors, the team is unlikely to move him ahead of the February 9 trade deadline, according to one NBA reporter.

“I would be very surprised if Matisse is moved by the deadline,” Turner Sports sideline reporter Chris Haynes said on the February 2 episode “This League Uncut,” his podcast with Marc Stein. “There has always been a talk about how he’s not efficient on offense. He’s not a consistent outside threat, but the havoc he causes on the defensive end when he’s playing consistent minutes. He’s a difference-maker. The steals, the blocks to the, you know, to get into the space, get into guys, he’s one of the best at doing that. Probably the best when we think about all those attributes that he brings to the table defensively.”

Despite his Thybulle’s flaws on offense (he averages just 2.7 points per game in an average of 12.1 minutes per game), his defensive skill set could become invaluable in the postseason, Haynes said.

“A player like him, even with the limitation that people talk about as an offensive player like him in the playoffs, you know, that pays dividends for you,” Haynes said about the Sixers’ first-round pick in 2019. “So, I still have a hard time believing he’ll be moved.”


Marc Stein Skeptical of Sacramento Kings Trade

Stein reported on January 31 that the Sacramento Kings were looking to add a wing defender in their playoff chase.

“Sacramento is said to be monitoring the availability of Philadelphia’s Matisse Thybulle as the Kings, unexpectedly holding the West’s No. 3 seed after a league-record 16 consecutive seasons out of the playoffs, ponder the pursuit of a more defensive-minded option on the perimeter,” Stein wrote.

But two days later on “This League Uncut,” Stein seemed to agree with Haynes, saying that a deal for Thybulle seemed unlikely.

“Sacramento has their eye on him. I don’t know if there’s a deal there. It isn’t even fully clear there if Philly is going to make Thybulle available,” Stein said.

He added that if Thybulle is on the market, his defensive abilities would draw plenty of interest from interested suitors.

“The defense that he’s capable of — I know there’s concern about his shooting and all that — but if he’s really in play, I would imagine there would be some pretty considerable interest in him.”


Golden State Warriors Also Interested in Matisse Thybulle

The Kings are not the only team interested in acquiring Thybulle should he become available. Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that the reigning champions are also interested in trading for him.

“Multiple NBA sources said the Golden State Warriors have had internal discussions about Thybulle and that they do like him as a defensive stopper,” Pompey wrote.

The Warriors are 26-25, which puts them in a three-way tie with the Utah Jazz and Phoenix Suns for the no. 7 seed in the Western Conference standings. While they’re only a game and a half behind the Los Angeles Clippers for the No. 4 seed, they are also only two and a half games ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers for the No. 11 seed.

Acquiring Thybulle could potentially boost their defense, which is tied for the 14th-lowest in the league, allowing 113.1 points per 100 possessions.

Read More
,