Matisse Thybulle picks Lakers on one-year deal, ESPN reports
ESPN says the defensive wing agreed to a $3.3 million contract with Los Angeles after talks with JJ Redick and Luka Doncic.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
2 min read
Matisse Thybulle is headed for purple and gold on a one-year, $3.3 million agreement with the Los Angeles Lakers, sources told ESPN.
The free agent forward gives Los Angeles another defensive specialist on the wing. ESPN described Thybulle as a two-time All-Defensive team selection, and reported that his free agency talks included conversations with JJ Redick and Luka Doncic about the team’s interest in signing him and the part he could play.
According to ESPN, Thybulle chose the Lakers with an eye on helping their perimeter defense. The move adds another guaranteed contract to a roster that is already crowded.
Thybulle has played seven NBA seasons and is entering his eighth, according to ESPN. He spent the recent stretch with the Portland Trail Blazers, and ESPN reported that he had discussed going back to Portland before deciding on Los Angeles.
Those talks with the Trail Blazers did not lead to a return. Sources told ESPN that Thybulle believed Portland did not make a serious push to keep him, with the team offering non-guaranteed deals through much of free agency.
What Thybulle brings
Thybulle’s calling card is defense, and ESPN Research put a sharp number on it. Among players who appeared in at least 20 games last season, Thybulle led the NBA in steals and deflections per 36 minutes, according to ESPN Research.
His outside shooting has also been part of the case for adding him. ESPN reported that Thybulle made 41.8% of his 3-point attempts over the past two seasons, though he played in 45 total games during that span.
That combination, a defensive pest with a recent high 3-point percentage, explains why the Lakers pursued him as a wing option. ESPN reported that Redick and Doncic spoke with Thybulle about the team’s plans for him during free agency.
Lakers still have roster work
The deal brings the Lakers to 16 guaranteed salaries, according to ESPN. NBA teams must get their regular-season rosters in order by opening night, and ESPN reported that Los Angeles has until late October to look for trades that could combine players and trim the group.
The Lakers and Trail Blazers also talked about sign-and-trade possibilities involving Thybulle, ESPN reported. Such a deal would have allowed Thybulle to make more money, but the teams did not reach an agreement.
Los Angeles also made a strong run at unrestricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga, sources told ESPN. Those discussions have not moved forward, according to the report.
For now, the Lakers’ latest move is a short-term bet on Thybulle’s defensive impact and a roster puzzle that still needs sorting before the season begins.
This story draws on original reporting from ESPN.com.