The 2023 NBA trade deadline is right around the corner — tomorrow, Feb. 9 at 3 PM E.T., to be exact. Naturally, the Philadelphia 76ers have been swept up in every manner of rumor as they seek to bolster their arsenal ahead of the postseason.
One name who has been mentioned more than any other since last season is Matisse Thybulle. Coming off of two unproductive postseasons and still struggling to command respect behind the 3-point line, it feels like Thybulle has reached the end of the road in Philly.
The 25-year-old, with two All-Defensive teams on his résumé, is naturally garnering interest from all over the league: contenders and rebuilders alike. Per Michael Scotto of Hoops Hype, nearly a third of the NBA has expressed trade interest in the former Washington Husky.
The 76ers seem increasingly likely to trade Matisse Thybulle
To tally up the list of interested suitors, per Scotto: Sacramento, Golden State, Atlanta, Indiana, Portland, Milwaukee, Dallas, Charlotte, Toronto, and Phoenix. There could be more lurking in the shadows, as Thybulle — say whatever you want about his offensive repertoire — is one of the most talented individual defenders in the league.
The Sixers have frankly not played Thybulle enough this season. He has shown marked improvement as a shooter and finisher. Defenses still pay him no mind behind the 3-point line, but he has reached the point of being semi-serviceable on top of his unique defensive impact.
Minutes, however, have been hard to come by with P.J. Tucker and De’Anthony Melton swallowing large chunks of minutes on the wing. Philadelphia is trying to win right now, and any patience for Thybulle was thrown out the window when he couldn’t even play in half the games versus Toronto last postseason.
Also of note is recent reporting from Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer, who suggests the percolating potential of a Thybulle-Jarred Vanderbilt swap with the Utah Jazz. Vando is already a fan favorite when it comes to potential trade targets. He can play with Embiid or behind Embiid, replicating some of Thybulle’s defensive activity while providing significantly higher value on offense and on the glass.
The Sixers shouldn’t trade Thybulle simply to save on the luxury tax or to avoid paying him: any return should involve a legitimate, rotation-level NBA wing or forward. As long as that’s the case, however, one could hardly blame the Sixers for looking to maximize fit around the Embiid-Harden core.
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