Matisse Thybulle has played only four games this season for the Portland Trail Blazers. He's continued to rehab from thumb surgery but is now also dealing with right knee tendinopathy. This could sideline him for weeks and potentially hurt the Blazers' chances of finding a trade partner by the Feb. 5 deadline.
However, if the Blazers are able to move Thybulle, the Los Angeles Lakers have emerged as an obvious landing spot for the two-way wing.
ESPN's Bobby Marks recently named Thybulle and Robert Williams as the two trade candidates for Portland leading up to the deadline. Both veterans are on expiring contracts, and it makes sense for the Blazers to receive any assets they can before letting them walk in free agency. Of course, they could continue investing in them with a new contract. But that may present an unnecessary risk, as neither fits their rebuilding timeline and, most importantly, neither is a reliable option given their extensive injury histories.
We recently discussed the Lakers as an ideal fit for Williams, a team that desperately needs defensive-minded role players. The same thing could apply to Thybulle and Los Angeles. In fact, it may be an even better match.
Matisse Thybulle fits the Lakers' trade deadline plans
NBA insider Marc Stein reported on The Stein Line (subscription required) that the "Lakers continue to scour the trade market in hopes of acquiring a two-way wing with size before the Feb. 5 trade deadline."
Stein adds that the New Orleans Pelicans are "resistant to trade interest" for both Herb Jones and Trey Murphy III, which further complicates the Lakers' quest for a two-way wing.
Additionally, the Lakers aren't going to sacrifice their financial flexibility this summer unless it's for a "real needle-mover," and it remains to be seen if one will present itself on the market in the coming weeks.
That's where Thybulle comes in. He's not a needle-mover, but he still checks just about every box the Lakers are looking for this trade deadline.
He has positional size and defensive versatility at 6-foot-5. He also doesn't get enough credit for improving his three-point shot and developing into an underrated 3-and-D option, hovering around 36% since joining the Blazers in 2022.
The Blazers should be open to trading Thybulle because of his expiring contract, but that's also why he could be an intriguing option for the Lakers. They find a relatively cheap short-term solution to try to make the most of the closing Luka Doncic-LeBron James window, but also realize that they remain more than one piece away from true contention. Thybulle makes them competitive for the remainder of the season and then allows them to reevaluate their options in the summer.
It all depends on his health, but assuming he's able to return in the coming weeks, this deal makes perfect sense for all parties involved.