NBA Insiders Skeptical About Sixers' Desire to Trade Thybulle
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The NBA trade market will soon close. While the Philadelphia 76ers aren’t expected to make any blockbuster deals this time around, there seems to be a lot of smoke surrounding the team’s defensive standout, Matisse Thybulle.
On Monday night, NBA reporter Marc Stein mentioned that the Sacramento Kings are a team that has their eyes on Thybulle. As Sacramento is in the Western Conference playoff picture this season, they are looking to buy at the trade deadline and could use the services of Thybulle on defense.
On Thursday morning, Stein once again reiterated Sacramento’s interest in Thybulle in the latest episode of “This League Uncut” with Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes. While Stein re-reported Sacramento’s interest in Thybulle, he offered some skepticism about the Sixers’ interest in wanting to deal Thybulle right now as their plans are unclear.
“Sacramento has their eye on him. I don’t know if there’s a deal there. It isn’t even fully clear there if Philly is going to make Thybulle available. Look, Sacramento definitely has their eye on that situation. … Thybulle is such a polarizing player. I think if we had Sixers fans dialed in here, half would say they would do anything they could to keep him in town. The other half would send him out. I’m a fan. The defense that he’s capable of — I know there’s concern about his shooting and all that — but if he’s really in play, I would imagine there would be some pretty considerable interest in him.” (Marc Stein)
Since joining the Sixers in 2019, Thybulle has had a steady role in the team’s rotation. While Thybulle is currently in the Sixers’ rotation this season, he’s averaging just 12 minutes on the court in 46 games, which is 13 fewer minutes than last season.
Before the 2022-2023 season started, Thybulle and the Sixers did not reach an extension before the deadline, which indicates that he’ll become a restricted free agent in the offseason. All signs point towards Thybulle being a potential trade chip for the Sixers this year as he’s playing less and set to become a free agent, but Chris Haynes dished his thoughts on the situation, mentioning that he would be shocked if Thybulle is moved by the Sixers.
“I would be very surprised if Matisse is moved by the deadline. There has always been a talk about how he's not efficient on offense, he's not a consistent outside threat, but the havoc he causes on the defensive end when he's playing consistent minutes, he's a difference maker. The steals, the blocks, to the, you know, to get into the space, get into guys, he's one of the best at doing that. Probably the best when we think about all those attributes that he brings to the table defensively. A player like him, even with the limitation that people talk about as an offensive player like him in the playoffs, you know, that that pays dividends for you. So, I still have a hard time believing he'll be moved.“ (Chris Haynes)
Right now, there are two teams linked to Thybulle. One is the Kings, which was mentioned above. The other is the Golden State Warriors, which was added in a report from The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Keith Pompey.
While several reports indicate that Thybulle has drawn interest on the market from different teams, the one common factor is that Philadelphia’s interest in moving the defensive standout remains unclear. And as Thybulle’s name consistently gets thrown around in the rumor mill, the young veteran remains patient and clear-headed as everything plays out.
“I let it bother me a lot in the past. I think it helps to know it's like it's not my first rodeo,” Thybulle said on Wednesday night in response to the rumors. "Every single year, it's kind of like the same situation. It’s like, ‘You’re gonna get traded!’ Until, like the very last minute, you don’t. I've gotten all the way there until it actually happens. At this point, I kind of know the ropes, and it helps that my family does as well.”
Teams have until Thursday, February 9, to finalize their deals. As Thybulle said, this isn’t his first rodeo in the rumor mill. As he’s been linked to potential trades over the last two seasons, nothing came to life. While that might change this time around, it doesn’t seem like talks are heating up at this time.
Justin Grasso covers the Philadelphia 76ers for All76ers, a Sports Illustrated channel. You can follow him for live updates on Twitter: @JGrasso_.
