The Lakers made a move this offseason, snagging Matisse Thybulle at the minimum, and it’s all about replacing some serious defensive fire. After Marcus Smart jetted to the Houston Rockets, it wasn’t just a player they lost, it was like their entire defensive soul vanished, that chaos agent on the perimeter gone. Walker Kessler is gonna hold down the paint, no doubt, but to lock up the perimeter, the Lakers are banking hard on Thybulle being Smart’s go-to proxy.
The Big Health Gamble & Defensive Disruptor You Can’t Ignore
This whole Thybulle deal is a gamble, sure, but since he signed for the minimum, it’s mostly safe, right? The hope is he stays healthy and gets rejuvenated playing for a squad with full-on championship aspirations. The dude’s got a reputation for being injury-prone, which is probably overstated, but let’s be real, he just hasn’t been able to stay on the court. We’re talking a combined 45 games over the last two seasons. That’s a huge reason he was even available for a minimum contract!
But here’s the kicker: reports say he’s fully healthy heading into this new season. If that’s the real deal and he can keep it that way, that’s a massive win for the Lakers’ defense. Because when Thybulle *is* on the floor, there are honestly few, if any, more disruptive players in the entire NBA. This isn’t just talk, either. When you look at his activity compared to other wings, Thybulle has only finished lower than the 98th percentile in steal percentage *once* in his career. And get this: he’s never been worse than the 92nd percentile in block percentage. Think about that for a second!
Portland’s Proof & Thybulle’s Next Test
It’s not just about his individual stats, though. His impact on the whole team’s defense is just wild. Last year, the Portland Trail Blazers were an insane 11.1 points better defensively when Thybulle was out there on the court compared to when he wasn’t. That’s not some small change, either! Plus, they forced teams to turn the ball over 6.4% more in those minutes, which was the best on/off differential in the league for that category. Those numbers don’t lie.
Now, if he wants to snag a major role, there’s one other area Thybulle absolutely *has* to nail down: his 3-point shot. So, with the season kicking off soon, all eyes are gonna be on Thybulle. Can he actually stay on the court? Can he finally show out for more than 45 games over two seasons? If he does, and that 3-ball starts falling, this could be the steal of the offseason for a team dreaming big.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Silver Screen and Roll.
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