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The Philadelphia 76ers and Matisse Thybulle once were a pairing filled with such hope for how Thybulle factored into the team’s play on offense and defense. Thybulle’s defense is his calling card and why the Sixers have valued him so highly since drafting him in the first round of the 2019 NBA Draft.
Thybulle fell out of favor with the team due to his inconsistent outside shooting and his COVID-19 vaccination status, which threw a wrench into the team’s first-round series when Thybulle was unable to play in Toronto, Canada. With Thybulle’s flaws vaguely stated, the team should not trade Matisse Thybulle. The main reason is that the trade market for wing players at their best is not much better than Matisse Thybulle at his best.
The Sixers should keep Matisse Thybulle past the trade deadline
Some of the names for wing players and small-ball big men are Washington Wizards’ Rui Hachimura, Charlotte Hornets’ Jalen McDaniels, and New York Knicks’ Cam Reddish. All these players can possibly be acquired by the Sixers. Philly does not have enough trading capital to use for a top wing player like OG Anunoby and still contend for a championship this season.
Matisse Thybulle has had his minutes cut in half this year from 25.5 minutes per game in the 2021-22 season to 12.5 minutes per game in the 2022-23 season. Even with that, Thybulle’s skillset is still there just lying dormant waiting to pounce. Thybulle’s ability to pounce on passing lanes, ballhandlers, and shots from behind adds another element to the Sixers’ defense. Famously, Thybulle has an incredibly long wingspan for standing at 6-foot-5. Thybulle has a 6-foot-11 wingspan, along with the instincts to contribute positive minutes, especially on defense.
Defense is the one thing that Thybulle knows how to do on the court. In such short periods of playing time, Thybulle is a reserve that the other team is weary of and how much havoc he can provide. The team needs to give Thybulle the leash to explore how his unique defensive abilities can benefit his teammates. Understandably so Thybulle’s minutes have been cut but the Sixers should take the opportunity to pair him with the second unit in some way. A possible pairing of De’Anthony Melton and Matisse Thybulle would add a pressure defense along the perimeter.
There is nothing wrong with having an extra body to throw at really good and elite wing players in the NBA. Thybulle provides that along with his pesky defensive style. The 6-foot-5 forward can provide some complications for players like Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Kyrie Irving, and other players in the East. It would be Thybulle’s one job to be as effective and annoying as possible during his limited minutes.
Not to mention the Sixers have defensive questions, particularly on the perimeter because of James Harden and Tyrese Maxey’s deficiencies. Thybulle’s slithery frame can be useful to create steals and blocks to possibly get the Sixers another possession or two out in transition. Transition is another place Thybulle can make up for his offensive issues as he is an athletic finisher with surprising bounce. The Sixers should want to keep the luxury of an NBA All-Defensive talent.
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