PORTLAND, OREGON - MARCH 29: Matisse Thybulle #4 of the Portland Trail Blazers looks on during the ... [+]
Portland Trail Blazers restricted free agent forward Matisse Thybulle intends to sign an offer sheet from the Dallas Mavericks, according to TNT and Bleacher Report reporter Chris Haynes.
Thybulle played 22 games with the Blazers last season — all starts — after being traded to Portland by the Philadelphia 76ers as part of an extensive four-team deal involving the Charlotte Hornets and New York Knicks. He averaged 7.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.7 steals in 27.7 minutes with the Blazers.
It’s unclear how much the Mavericks are offering Thybulle. Dallas still has all or most of its Mid-Level Exception to use, depending on how it structures its existing contractual agreements with free agents.
A four-year, max MLE deal for Thybulle would net him upwards of $53.3 million for the duration of the contract. Using the full MLE on Thybulle would financially bind Dallas if they intend to pursue other free agents. The Mavericks would only be able to offer minimum deals.
However, because Thybulle is a restricted free agent, the Blazers can match any offer from the Mavericks to keep him in Portland. And that’s exactly what they intend to do, according to NBA insider Marc Stein.
Stein reports that the Blazers will match any offer Thybulle receives. “The Blazers and Celtics have been sending behind-the-scenes signals to interested teams that they intend to match any offer sheet for Thybulle or [Grant] Williams, respectively,” Stein writes. Williams is also a rumored target of the Mavericks.
The Boston Celtics drafted Thybulle with the No. 20 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. They traded him the following day to Philadephia. He appeared in 245 games with the Sixers before they traded him to the Blazers.
Thybulle is known as a stout defender. He has career averages of 4.6 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.8 blocks.
Dallas’ interest in Thybulle stems from its need to add defensive depth around the perimeter. He certainly provides it, but the Mavericks will have to turn elsewhere to find it if Portland matches.
