After another disappointing showing in the 2022 NBA Postseason, the Philadelphia 76ers set out to reshape the supporting cast on their roster this offseason. Daryl Morey did an excellent job with the limited number of resources that he had, bringing in some playoff-tested players that filled needs on the roster.
During the 2022 NBA Draft, the 76ers swung a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies acquiring De’Anthony Melton. He fills the backup point guard void that was behind Tyrese Maxey and James Harden in the rotation.
In free agency, some familiar faces for Morey and Harden were signed. P.J. Tucker, who declined his player option with the Miami Heat, inked a three-year deal with the 76ers worth just over $33 million. Danuel House Jr. was also signed, as both will provide much-needed depth in the frontcourt and on the wing.
As a result of those moves, it is anyone’s guess what the team is now going to do with Matisse Thybulle. The 20th overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, Thybulle is eligible for his rookie extension this offseason, but those talks could drag on for a long time. According to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report, there is no traction on contract talks yet between the two sides.
Thybulle did not perform well during the team’s postseason appearance, which certainly played a part in bringing on Tucker and House. His vaccination status is another hurdle to get over, as he was in and out of the lineup during the series against the Toronto Raptors.
Thybulle has a unique skill set as he possesses the skill to be one of the best defenders in the NBA. We have already seen flashes of excellence on that end of the court, but he struggles mightily to make an impact offensively. In the postseason, his Net Rating was -15.5 and the 76ers’ rating with him off the court was +5.6, for a difference of 21.1.
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In the regular season, Philadelphia was actually better with him on the court, as his Net Rating was +3.8 and with him off it was +2.2. The offense improved by 1.7, but the defense worsened by 3.2.
If he can get back to what he was doing during the regular season, Thybulle will have no issues landing a solid payday on his extension. However, not performing when the team needs it most in the playoffs is certainly a detriment to his case.
It would not be surprising if a deal wasn’t reached before the deadline and Thybulle became a restricted free agent. He could bet on himself and hope that he performs well enough to receive more lucrative offers next offseason.
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