It sure is looking like the Portland Trail Blazers will be missing the playoffs once again for the fourth consecutive season. Their 13-25 record has them in 13th place in the Western Conference. Portland is a full six games behind the Golden State Warriors, who are in 10th. They have often struggled on the defensive end and have been without Matisse Thybulle for the whole season.
An update has been provided on Matisse Thybulle, and hopefully he will get to make his return to the court for his season debut in the not-so-distant future.
Trail Blazers Defensive Stalwart Could Be Close To Season Debut
Matisse Thybulle’s Return Could Be Coming Soon
The 27-year-old Thybulle has not appeared in a game for the Trail Blazers in the 2024-25 season. He has been out with a right ankle sprain that he suffered in November. That injury was sustained while he was rehabbing from knee inflammation.
On Saturday, the Trail Blazers provided an update on the 6-foot-5 wing. Thybulle is continuing to progress from his ankle ailment, and he will be re-evaluated in two weeks. It is approaching 10 months since Thybulle last played in an NBA game. His last appearance was on March 29 as he also missed Portland’s final eight contests last season.
Has Been A Well-Regarded Defensive Stopper
Selected with the 20th overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, Thybulle has been known as a defensive stopper during his five seasons. In both 2020-21 and 2021-22, he was named to the All-Defensive Second Team while with the Philadelphia 76ers. At the 2023 trade deadline, Thybulle was shipped from the 76ers to the Trail Blazers in a four-team deal.
Portland could use a pest on the defensive end such as Thybulle as that end of the floor has been a struggle. Many of their defensive ranks are near the bottom of the league this season. They are 26th in defensive rating, 23rd in points allowed per game, 27th in opponents field goal percentage, and also 27th in opponents three-point percentage.
Last season, Thybulle appeared in 65 games for Portland and made 19 starts. Playing 22.7 minutes per contest, he posted averages of 5.4 points, 2.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.7 steals, and 0.8 blocks. About 73% of Thybulle’s shot attempts came from beyond the arc, and he connected on 34.6% of them.
Matisse Thybulle’s Return Necessary For Potential Trade
With the Trail Blazers looking like they will sit home for the playoffs again, there have been trade rumors about dealing away pieces. Players such as Robert Williams III, Duop Reath, and Jerami Grant have heard their names be speculated on as potential trade pieces.
Another one of those players could be Thybulle. He is in the second year of a three-year, $33+ million deal that was signed in the 2023 offseason. Next season is a player option that is worth $11.55 million. There are postseason-bound teams that could use a wing stopper such as Thybulle. With the trade deadline just 26 days away on February 6, they will certainly want to see Thybulle back on the court before pulling the trigger on a deal for him.
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