The Dallas Mavericks tried to poach Matisse Thybulle because the Blazers’ rangy wing defender is precisely the kind of player they could use. Dallas gave Thybulle a three-year $33 million offer sheet which he signed.
Portland has decided to match the offer, reports Adrain Wojnarowski of ESPN.
The Portland Trail Blazers are matching restricted free agent Matisse Thybulle’s three-year, $33 million offer sheet with the Dallas Mavericks, sources tell ESPN. Sheet was signed and received in Portland this morning. pic.twitter.com/5WEqjCO18w
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 6, 2023
The Trail Blazers wasted no time in making that official (which is good news for the Mavericks, their cap space is not tied up for 24 hours and they can make another offer). This doesn’t mean Portland will keep Thybulle long term, they could flip him in another trade as part of their rebuild around Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe, but the Trail Blazers were not going to let Thybulle walk at that price and get nothing back.
It’s a fair price for Thybulle, one of the best free agents left on the market. He is an elite, switchable wing defender who is a two-time All-Defensive Team player. Betting on him at $11 million is a season is banking on the 36.5% he shot from 3 continuing (plus he turned the ball over less). Other teams may not be convinced, but if Thybulle starts the season in Portland and continues to show offensive improvement, that $33 million will look like a steal. And his trade value will go up.
