If the LA Clippers are serious about fixing their defensive identity-and let’s be honest, they should be-then it might be time to look past the flashy names and focus on what actually moves the needle on that end of the floor. Enter Matisse Thybulle, a two-time All-Defensive wing who could be exactly the kind of low-maintenance, high-impact player this roster needs.
Now, Thybulle’s not going to light up the scoreboard. That’s never been his game.
He’s averaged under 7.5 points per game across seven seasons, and that number tells you what you need to know about his offensive priorities. But defense?
That’s where he makes his money. He’s the kind of player who doesn’t need the ball to make a difference-he just needs a matchup.
And right now, the Clippers have plenty of those going the wrong way.
The proposed trade with Portland would send Chris Paul and Brook Lopez north in exchange for Thybulle. On paper, it’s not the kind of blockbuster that makes headlines. But dig a little deeper, and it’s a deal that checks a lot of boxes for both sides.
For the Clippers, this would be a strategic reset. Paul and Lopez, both respected veterans, haven’t found their rhythm in LA.
Whether it’s age, fit, or just timing, it hasn’t worked. Moving them clears the deck and brings in a wing who fits exactly what head coach Ty Lue and defensive consultant Jeff Van Gundy have been trying to build: a switchable, aggressive defense that can hold its own in the playoffs.
Yes, Thybulle is currently sidelined with a UCL tear in his left thumb. But even with the injury, he’s played 84 games since the start of the 2023-24 season-enough to show he can still contribute when healthy.
And for the Clippers, this wouldn’t be about immediate returns. It’s about setting up a more balanced, defensively capable rotation for the stretch run and beyond.
When Thybulle is back to full strength, he gives LA a legitimate perimeter stopper-something they’ve lacked all season.
On the flip side, Portland gets value, too. Thybulle is on an expiring deal, and if the Blazers don’t see him as part of their long-term core, flipping him now makes sense.
In return, they get two veterans who can help stabilize a young locker room. Chris Paul brings leadership and playmaking to a backcourt featuring rising talents like Shaedon Sharpe and Deni Avdija.
And Brook Lopez offers a steady presence in the paint-especially valuable if the Blazers decide to move Robert Williams III.
For Paul, the move keeps him on the West Coast, which may not be ideal but is still close to home. It’s a manageable transition for the 12-time All-Star, and Portland could offer him more on-court responsibility than he’s had in LA.
This isn’t the kind of trade that dominates headlines, but it’s the kind that smart teams make. The Clippers would be turning two assets that no longer fit into a player who addresses a glaring need. Thybulle may not be a star, but he’s exactly the type of role player who makes life easier for the stars already on the roster.
And for a team with championship aspirations, that kind of move could be the difference between a first-round exit and a deep playoff run.