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The Los Angeles Lakers are looking for a defensive wing capable of covering for an offense-first backcourt featuring Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
Sound familiar, by chance?
The Portland Trail Blazers are preparing to deploy Damian Lillard and Ja Morant together next season ... creating many of the same defensive concerns Los Angeles is attempting to address.
And apparently, the Lakers believe former Blazers forward Matisse Thybulle could be part of their solution.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Los Angeles registered interest in Thybulle this week while continuing to pursue restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga.
Portland should pay attention.
Following the trade that sent Jerami Grant and Kris Murray to the Memphis Grizzlies for Morant, Portland is now thin at forward behind Deni Avdija and Toumani Camara.
That could mean Sidy Cissoko earns a larger opportunity under first-year head coach Micah Nori, but relying on an unproven 22-year-old as the primary depth option for a team hoping to return to the playoffs would be quite the gamble.
Now, it's important to remember Thybulle wouldn't completely solve that problem.
He's appeared in just 45 games across the past two seasons, including 30 last year, after dealing with right knee tendinopathy and a string of additional injuries.
His limited offensive game also makes him a difficult player to deploy alongside non-shooters.
But there aren't many available free agents with two All-Defensive selections on their résumé, either.
Thybulle averaged two steals in just 21.7 minutes per game last season and has shot 41.1% from beyond the arc across his past two campaigns.
The volume behind that percentage doesn't suggest he's suddenly become an elite shooter, but it may be enough to prevent opposing defenses from completely ignoring him.
Which is all the Blazers would need.
Morant, Lillard and Avdija can create offense. Thybulle's responsibility would be making their lives easier on the other end, generating turnovers and handling difficult perimeter assignments when Camara needs a rest.
The Lakers understand the value of adding that kind of specialist around their offensively gifted guards. The Blazers should, too.
Portland still has one opening on its 15-man roster, and Thybulle's injury history should keep his price manageable — barring a competitive offer extended by LA.
A short-term agreement would allow the Blazers to restore some of the defensive depth they sacrificed in the Morant trade without making another major commitment.
Los Angeles may be interested in Thybulle because he fits around Doncic and Reaves.
Portland can't ignore that he fits around its new backcourt for many of the same reasons.
Continue reading...
Sound familiar, by chance?
The Portland Trail Blazers are preparing to deploy Damian Lillard and Ja Morant together next season ... creating many of the same defensive concerns Los Angeles is attempting to address.
And apparently, the Lakers believe former Blazers forward Matisse Thybulle could be part of their solution.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Los Angeles registered interest in Thybulle this week while continuing to pursue restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga.
Portland should pay attention.
Following the trade that sent Jerami Grant and Kris Murray to the Memphis Grizzlies for Morant, Portland is now thin at forward behind Deni Avdija and Toumani Camara.
That could mean Sidy Cissoko earns a larger opportunity under first-year head coach Micah Nori, but relying on an unproven 22-year-old as the primary depth option for a team hoping to return to the playoffs would be quite the gamble.
Now, it's important to remember Thybulle wouldn't completely solve that problem.
He's appeared in just 45 games across the past two seasons, including 30 last year, after dealing with right knee tendinopathy and a string of additional injuries.
His limited offensive game also makes him a difficult player to deploy alongside non-shooters.
But there aren't many available free agents with two All-Defensive selections on their résumé, either.
Thybulle averaged two steals in just 21.7 minutes per game last season and has shot 41.1% from beyond the arc across his past two campaigns.
The volume behind that percentage doesn't suggest he's suddenly become an elite shooter, but it may be enough to prevent opposing defenses from completely ignoring him.
Which is all the Blazers would need.
Morant, Lillard and Avdija can create offense. Thybulle's responsibility would be making their lives easier on the other end, generating turnovers and handling difficult perimeter assignments when Camara needs a rest.
The Lakers understand the value of adding that kind of specialist around their offensively gifted guards. The Blazers should, too.
Portland still has one opening on its 15-man roster, and Thybulle's injury history should keep his price manageable — barring a competitive offer extended by LA.
A short-term agreement would allow the Blazers to restore some of the defensive depth they sacrificed in the Morant trade without making another major commitment.
Los Angeles may be interested in Thybulle because he fits around Doncic and Reaves.
Portland can't ignore that he fits around its new backcourt for many of the same reasons.
Continue reading...
