The New Orleans Pelicans have barely moved since NBA free agency opened, and the math is part of the reason why. After bringing in DeAndre Jordan, they have just one roster spot left, which means any real maneuvering may have to come through a trade involving either Jordan Poole or Jordan Hawkins to create more room or more flexibility.
That puts the focus on bargain options, and former Portland Trail Blazers forward Matisse Thybulle checks a lot of boxes for what New Orleans needs. He’s the kind of defense-first wing who can change the tone of a game with his activity, and last season he also showed signs that his three-point shot might finally be turning into a real weapon.
Thybulle, 29, posted 5.8 points, 2.0 rebounds and 0.9 assists a night last season while shooting 43.3/39.8/84.0. The volume still isn’t there, but defenses can’t ignore him the way they once could. He’s never going to be the centerpiece of an offense - his career high is 20 points - but he’s no longer a complete liability when the ball finds him.
His shooting growth mattered for Portland, which finished with a net +10.1 rating when he was on the floor last season. The Blazers were also -11.8 points per 100 possessions on defense. Thybulle’s calling card remains the same: active hands, constant disruption, and at least 2.0 steals per game over the last few seasons.
That kind of player would likely command something in the $12 million to $15 million range, but his health complicates the picture. Over the last couple of years, he’s appeared in just 45 games, and that has clearly cooled the market.
For teams willing to roll the dice, though, there’s a case for a much cheaper short-term deal in the $5 million to $7 million range. That kind of prove-it contract would give a club a chance to see whether the shot holds and whether the defense still plays at a high level.
For New Orleans, the fit is obvious. Jamahl Mosley and Joe Dumars have spent the offseason stressing defensive effort and intensity, and if you remember what Mosley’s Magic teams looked like, Thybulle would slide right into that style.
It wouldn’t be the headline move fans are hoping for, but it could still be the kind of signing that swings a game or two next season.
In Other News...
Pelicans Lose A Key Frontcourt Target As Pressure Builds Fast
Mitchell Robinson came off the board quickly, and that leaves the Pelicans with one less frontcourt name to circle as the offseason market keeps moving. New Orleans had viewed Robinson as a possible target, but the center is no longer available, and the timing only adds to the sense that the team has to keep working through its options rather than waiting for the perfect fit to emerge.
For a roster still looking to sort out the middle of the floor, the remaining possibilities now matter more. Andre Drummond and Moussa Cisse are among the center choices still mentioned for New Orleans, and the challenge is no longer just identifying help, but finding the right move before the board tightens any further. [Read more 🡒]
Trey Murphy III Just Became The Pelicans Most Dangerous Trade Decision
Jaylen Brown landing with the 76ers has only sharpened the spotlight on Trey Murphy III, and not just because he is the kind of wing every contender wants. The move has amplified his value around the Eastern Conference, where the market for versatile scoring and two-way length is always thin, and it has put the Pelicans in the middle of a trade conversation they did not create but now have to monitor closely.
Boston is suddenly better positioned to enter the chase after adding fresh draft capital in the Brown deal, and the Celtics now look like one of several East teams that could try to make a serious push. Philadelphia, Toronto, New York and Detroit are also part of the conversation, which only underscores how complicated Murphys market could become for New Orleans if the bidding starts to build. [Read more 🡒]