The 76ers came out of the summer with plenty to brag about, but one decision could end up nagging them later: letting Matisse Thybulle get away to the Lakers without even making a real run at bringing him back.
Thybulle, who spent the last few years in Portland after his time in Philadelphia, signed a one-year, veteran’s minimum deal with Los Angeles. That kind of low-risk move gives him a clear path to rebuild his value, and it also gives the Lakers a wing who already knows how to make life miserable for opposing offenses.
Philadelphia had a very obvious need this offseason. The roster could use players who can knock down open threes and hold up defensively, and Thybulle checks both boxes.
That’s why it stood out that the 76ers were never linked to him beyond fan speculation. For a player who once earned a couple of All-Defensive Team nods in Philly, the lack of interest was noticeable.
When he’s been healthy enough to play, Thybulle has still been productive in the role he does best. Over the last three seasons, he averaged 5.8 points, 1.9 steals, and nearly a block per game in a little over 20 minutes a night, while shooting 37.1 percent from deep. Those are the kinds of numbers that don’t jump off the page for everyone, but they tell the story of a disruptive, useful wing.
That’s what makes this miss sting a little more. The 76ers added a lot of flashy pieces this offseason, but they still didn’t fully stock up on the kind of three-and-D role players that Thybulle represents. There is still one roster spot open, so the door isn’t completely shut, but Thybulle was right there in front of them and the front office never seemed to seriously engage.
The Lakers, meanwhile, have a cleaner opening for him. With Marcus Smart and Luke Kennard gone, there are minutes waiting on the wing, and that sets Thybulle up with a real chance to turn in the bounce-back season he’s looking for.
Maybe this never becomes an issue for Philadelphia. But in a conference where the margin for error is thin, losing track of the right role player can matter more than it should. And if Thybulle looks like his old self in Los Angeles, the 76ers may be left wishing they had made the call.
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