The idea of bringing Matisse Thybulle back to Philadelphia made some sense on paper early in the offseason. He knew the organization, he could help on the wing, and his defense has never been in question. But the 76ers ended up steering clear, and there’s a strong case that they dodged a bad bet.
Thybulle, now 29, spent nearly four seasons with the 76ers and earned a pair of All-Defensive Team nods during that run. Since then, he’s spent the last four years with the Trail Blazers, though his time in Portland never really had a chance to build much momentum because injuries kept him out of the picture so often.
Over the last two seasons, Thybulle played in just 45 games. That means 119 missed games in a two-year stretch, a number that would make plenty of teams pause. It likely played a part in why he settled for a one-year, veteran’s minimum deal with the Lakers this summer.
For Philadelphia, that kind of availability issue is hard to justify. A player can be elite on defense, but if he’s regularly unavailable, the value drops fast. Even a cheap signing can become expensive in a different way if it turns into a roster spot that never produces consistent minutes.
The 76ers are trying to push forward in their title chase this season, and they’ve already dealt with enough injury frustration to know the risks. Taking on another player whose nightly availability is uncertain would have gone against that reality, especially with their cap situation making even a minimum contract matter more than usual.
Thybulle could still rebound with the Lakers. But for Philadelphia, the safer move was to stay away. The memories are there, but unless he shows he can stay on the floor, a reunion would have been more sentimental than smart.
In Other News...
Sixers Just Got A Wild Reminder About One Bargain Contract
A fresh reminder of how the basketball market has shifted landed with an odd twist for the Sixers: according to Eurohoops, several EuroLeague veterans are projected to out-earn LeBron James in the 2026-27 season. The comparison is eye-catching on its own, but it lands even harder in Philadelphia because two of the names in that group have direct Sixers ties in Vasilije Micic and Guerschon Yabusele.
Micic, who was drafted by the Sixers but never suited up for them, is expected to make $5.6 million with Hapoel Tel Aviv, while Yabusele is projected at $5 million with Panathinaikos in Greece. For a franchise that has spent years trying to maximize every roster spot and salary slot, it is a useful reminder that not every expensive basketball name is found in the NBA, and not every familiar one is cashing checks here. [Read more 🡒]
Sixers Suddenly Have A Joel Embiid Problem They Can't Ignore
A foot sprain for Adem Bona has complicated what was already one of the clearest roster concerns in Philadelphia: the depth behind Joel Embiid. Bona is set to be reevaluated in two weeks before training camp, and with Ariel Hukporti the only other backup center on the roster, the Sixers are suddenly staring at a thin middle behind a star who has already had his share of injury issues.
Bona and Hukporti both bring limited NBA experience, which only sharpens the concern as camp approaches. The Sixers still have time to sort through options, but the situation leaves little doubt about how quickly the conversation around the roster can shift when Embiids support system looks this exposed. [Read more 🡒]
Sixers Have A Real Backup Center Option Worth Watching In Miami
The Sixers are still carrying an open roster spot, but any addition would require a corresponding move, which keeps the front office in wait-and-see mode for now. One name worth watching is Nick Richards, a veteran center with the Heat who could fit Philadelphias need for a backup big if the situation in Miami breaks the right way.
For the Sixers, the appeal is simple: they have enough matching salaries on the roster to make a deal work if Richards becomes available, whether that happens because he does not make Miamis final cut or later in the season after Dec. 15. Nothing has been set in motion yet, but with the team still able to improve its frontcourt depth, this is the kind of situation that could quietly stay on the radar. [Read more 🡒]