Last Thursday, the Portland Trail Blazers finally provided injury updates for multiple players. Matisse Thybulle is now dealing with right knee tendinopathy while he continues to ramp up from thumb surgery. Thybulle is a trade candidate leading up to the Feb. 5 deadline, but his injuries could limit Portland's options.
Robert Williams III has the reputation as the Blazers' injury-prone player, but Thybulle's Portland tenure hasn't been much better. He played just 15 games last season due to a combination of knee and ankle injuries.
In October 2024, Thybulle underwent surgery to address right knee inflammation and then suffered a significant setback in the form of a grade 2 right ankle sprain while ramping up from that injury. Unfortunately, getting injured while ramping up has become a recurring theme for Thybulle.
Matisse Thybulle's injuries complicate Blazers' trade deadline plans
It's bad timing as the Blazers approach the deadline with uncertainty surrounding whether their two-way wing will be available by then. ESPN's Bobby Marks recently named Williams and Thybulle as two potential trade candidates for Portland.
Both are on expiring contracts, and Marks suggests the Blazers explore trading their talented but injury-prone defenders to build a true defensive identity around more reliable players. There's no argument from us here, especially given their questionable fit with the Blazers' rebuilding timeline. But if Thybulle isn't healthy by the deadline, it's going to be much more challenging for Portland to not only find a trade partner but also get anything of significance in return.
Thybulle looked like a perfect fit for the Blazers' defensive identity in his brief stretch. He was helping Portland turn their defensive vision into reality, picking up opponents the length of the court, effectively switching onto multiple positions, and just wreaking havoc overall as a defensive playmaker with his length, quick hands, and anticipation. But similarly to Williams, these past two seasons have proven that the Blazers can't rely on Thybulle going forward.
Instead of simply letting him walk in free agency, they could've explored trade options at the deadline. Now it's not that black-and-white. Given his expiring contract, it makes sense for a team to trade for Thybulle as a short-term rental. A contender may be willing to bet on Thybulle returning in time for a postseason run, when they'll need him the most. Or maybe Thybulle magically recovers before the Blazers actually need him healthy enough to trade him. But now that Thybulle is dealing with two injuries, it just adds another layer of complexity.
Portland needs a lot to go right between now and Feb. 5 to get anything valuable for Thybulle. Given how long it has taken Blazers players to recover this season, a month from now may be too soon.