The Portland Trail Blazers have matched the Dallas Mavericks’ $33 million offer sheet for Matisse Thybulle, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. Thybulle is signing a three-year, $33 million contract after being a restricted NBA free agent.
Thybulle played for the Philadelphia 76ers and Blazers last season. He averaged 4.1 points and 2.0 rebounds while shooting 43.5% from the field, 36.5% from 3 and 67.9% from the free-throw line. The 26-year-old has made two All-Defensive teams in his career.
Thybulle has career averages of 4.6 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists with the Sixers and Blazers. He played his college basketball at Washington.
Dallas entered the offseason with Thybulle and Grant Williams atop its free-agent board. It looked like both players would land with the Mavericks after the Boston Celtics traded Williams to Dallas in a three-team trade with the San Antonio Spurs.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Matisse Thybulle, Philadelphia 76ers & Dallas Mavericks Updates
However, the Blazers have decided to keep Thybulle despite Damian Lillard requesting a trade.
The Mavericks won just 38 games last season despite having Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Dallas was 5-11 in games Doncic and Irving played together. That was the worst winning percentage (.313) for a pair of teammates who were both All-Stars since the ABA-NBA merger in 1976-77, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.
Despite the Mavericks struggling after the Irving trade, though, the front office re-signed the NBA champion to a three-year, $126 million contract. Irving averaged 27.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists in 20 games with the Mavericks last season.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Matisse Thybulle, Philadelphia 76ers & Dallas Mavericks Updates
Along with re-signing Irving and trading for Williams, the Mavericks brought back Seth Curry, re-signed Dwight Powell and signed Dante Exum. Powell agreed to re-sign with Dallas on a three-year contract worth $12 million, while Exum and the Mavericks agreed to a one-year, guaranteed contract for next season.
Curry, who has played for the Mavericks twice before, signed a two-year contract with Dallas. He’s the younger brother of Golden State Warriors superstar point guard Stephen Curry. Despite Lillard requesting a trade, the Blazers still plan on re-signing Jerami Grant to a five-year, $160 million contract.
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