Grading the play of the Trail Blazers who were handed bigger roles in 2023

2 of 6

Matisse Thybulle, Portland Trail Blazers (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) /

Matisse Thybulle: D+

After a great start to his Blazers career, Thybulle has crashed back down to Earth. It’s been a mix of injuries taking him out of the lineup and his rhythm, but the biggest culprit of his slump is what’s always been a problem for him: shooting.

Thybulle is shooting 38.8 percent from three as a Blazer, but his percentage has dipped as he’s played less and less with Lillard. It makes sense that Thybulle’s quality of shots would decrease without the gravity of the star guards, but it highlights how perfect the situation in Portland needs to be for him to be a contributor.

Just like it is every offseason, Thybulle will need to become a competent offensive player to justify his role and minutes even though he still dominates on defense. In the pace-and-space era of the NBA, there just isn’t enough justification for a player who is a net negative on offense in the way Matisse is to carve out a significant role.