The Los Angeles Lakers signed Matisse Thybulle to a one-year, $3.29 million contract on July 20. It’s a small move on paper. It might be a smart one.
Thybulle is one of the best perimeter defenders in the league when he’s healthy. He was a 2019 second-round pick out of Washington, developed into an All-Defensive Second Team player in Philadelphia, and spent the last three years in Portland trying to stay on the floor.
Health is the question. Talent is not.
What Thybulle Brings
His hands are elite. His anticipation is elite. His steal rate is one of the highest in league history among wings. He can guard multiple positions and pester opposing point guards or wings for 30 minutes a night when he’s on the court.
The problem has been getting him on the court. Injuries have limited him in each of the last three seasons. His shooting has never really come around either. He’s a career 34% three-point shooter, which is fine, but he’ll never punish a defense that leaves him open.
The Lakers know all of this. They still signed him. Why? Because at $3.29 million on a one-year deal, this is the definition of low-risk. If Thybulle plays 60 games and defends like his old self, the Lakers just found their most impactful perimeter defender for pennies. If he plays 30 games and can’t shoot, the Lakers still got value.
The Timing Matters
This signing comes the same day LeBron James told the franchise he’s leaving. It’s not a coincidence. The Lakers are reshaping the roster around Luka Doncic and whatever comes next. Adding a defender who can guard the toughest wings in the West is a real need.
Look at the West: Wembanyama, Cooper Flagg, Anthony Edwards, Devin Booker, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Lakers need a guy who can chase those guys around screens. Thybulle can be that guy in short bursts.
The Roster Question
Thybulle joins a Lakers roster that still has Doncic, Austin Reaves, and Rui Hachimura. What comes next depends on how the Lakers spend the money that was going to LeBron. If they use it to add another star, this signing is a nice complementary piece. If they punt the season and rebuild around Doncic, Thybulle helps them stay competitive while doing it.
Either path, Thybulle fits.
Portland’s Loss Is LA’s Test
Portland gave up on Thybulle because they’re rebuilding around younger pieces. The Blazers wanted to see what they had in Shaedon Sharpe, Scoot Henderson, and Yang Hansen at the wing spots. Thybulle became the odd man out.
Los Angeles gets to see if there’s still a version of Thybulle that can be a real rotation piece for a contender. Best case: 20 minutes a night of tough perimeter defense, plus timely corner threes. Worst case: 30 games of “wait, why did they sign him?”
At $3.29 million, JJ Redick can experiment freely. This is a bet the Lakers should have made in June. Better late than never.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
