Lakers fans have spoken, and they are absolutely banking on Matisse Thybulle to be the breakout player this season, picking him as the guy most likely to outperform his contract in a recent SB Nation Reacts survey. The Lakers spent a ton this summer, re-signing Austin Reaves and trading for Walker Kessler, but it’s these smaller, sharper moves like bringing in Thybulle and Zaire Williams to bolster the wing position that could truly shift things for them.
Thybulle’s Defensive Lock-Down Return Is Key
This dude has been through it with injuries lately, but the word is Thybulle is finally healthy. If that’s legit and he hits the court for most of the regular season games, this pickup could be an absolute steal for the Lakers. He’s a perimeter defensive specialist, a skill that roster is straight up desperate for. Think about it: he was named Second Team All-Defense in his second and third years with the Sixers! If he gets back to that level, significant playing time isn’t just a maybe, it’s guaranteed. Last year with the Blazers, he averaged 5.8 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 0.9 assists across 30 games, hitting 39.8 percent of his threes. Head coach JJ Redick is probably eyeing Thybulle as a much more established player he can trust, especially when that defensive play is what the team needs most, maybe even more than someone just getting buckets.
Carr’s Summer League Buzz and The Lakers’ Play
It wasn’t just Thybulle getting love from the fans. Cameron Carr, who the Lakers traded up a spot for in the NBA Draft, snagged a solid 34% of the votes in that same survey. As a rookie, yeah, how good he’ll be against real NBA competition is still a huge question mark. But man, his Summer League play was seriously encouraging. He was dropping 18 points per game in Las Vegas, scoring with ease both on-ball and off-ball, and even helped the Lakers punch their ticket to the semifinals. That kind of performance could totally get him into the rotation for meaningful minutes right away.
The Lakers are clearly trying to win in the margins. Adding players like Thybulle, Carr, and two-year forward Adou Thiero, who all have breakout potential, especially on team-friendly deals, is how you compete and thrive under this current Collective Bargaining Agreement. Finding that player who can outperform their contract? That’s the secret sauce in the NBA, and it looks like the Lakers are betting big on Thybulle to be that guy.
This season, the Lakers are clearly hunting for those hidden gems. Whether it’s Thybulle bringing back his elite defense or Carr surprising everyone with immediate impact, their moves point to a team looking to leverage every opportunity. It’s going to be wild to see who steps up first and how it all shakes out.
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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