The Philadelphia 76ers have hit the rumor mill hard lately as reports from both the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Keith Pompey and Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer have indicated the team is fielding calls and multiple players. From Tobias Harris to Danny Green and, of course, Matisse Thybulle, the Sixers are looking to make some much-needed changes to their currently constructed roster.
When thinking specifically about Matisse Thybulle, it’s quite an interesting case as just last season; he was practically considered untouchable. That is apparently no longer the case after what was a difficult postseason for Thybulle, to say the least. The two-time NBA All-Defensive teamer averaged a lowly three points per game while shooting 28.6 percent from deep and 33.3 percent from the free-throw line. On top of all this, Thybulle missed three games due to his vaccination status.
All of this left a sour taste in the mouths of Sixers fans and seemingly the front office regarding Matisse Thybulle. Now on the trade block, or at the very least being mentioned in trade talks, this brings up questions about where Thybulle could be heading. Looking around the league, there are a few answers despite Thybulle’s difficult end to the season.
What players could the Philadelphia 76ers target in a Matisse Thybulle move, and would it be worthwhile to trade the defensive savant?
One important thing to note is that Thybulle’s salary (just over $4 million) does make it difficult to trade him. No, it’s not the albatross that Tobias Harris’ contract is; quite the opposite, actually. Thybulle’s salary is so low that in man deals, to acquire an impact player, the Philadelphia 76ers will have to include further salary, like Danny Green.
Despite his limitations, quite a few teams are expected to be interested in the services of the Sixers’ wing. Now it’s up to Daryl Morey to get as much value in return as possible.
3. Bogdan Bogdanovic
Much like the Philadelphia 76ers, the Atlanta Hawks are facing their own question-laden offseason. After a disappointing season that saw the Hawks barely make the playoffs, every player in Atlanta is reportedly available save for Trae Young and De’Andre Hunter. Now, there are a number of players in the ATL who should interest the 76ers, John Collins is the obvious name that comes to mind, but only so many are realistic.
Bogdan Bogdanovic is one of the more “realistic” targets for Philadelphia. The 29-year-old wing has been one of the top shooters in Atlanta during his time with the hawks, but his salary cap hit (over $18 million) and less-than-stellar injury history makes him available for the right price. At the moment, Bogdanovic is recovering from knee surgery, but the expectation is that he will be back within.
For Philadelphia, Bogdan Bogdanovic would be the shooter with size that the team needs. Over the past three seasons, Bogdanovic has attempted at least 7.2 threes per game and has hit them at a 38.8% clip. That’s some quality efficiency, considering the high rate with which he shoots.
Bogdan Bogdanovic would slide in as the team’s new starting small forward, and although he’s not quite the athlete or defender the Sixers need, he is, without a doubt, a major upgrade for Philadelphia. The Atlanta Hawks, meanwhile, would likely target Thybulle, a strong wing defender to play alongside Trae Young and Danny Green, who would not only match salary but become a veteran leader even before returning from injury. The $14 million the Hawks would save for the 2023-24 season doesn’t hurt either.
2. Coby White
The Chicago Bulls and Matisse Thybulle have been on a collision course ever since the NBA’s draft combine back in May. During the combine, which took place in Chicago, a rumor quickly spread that the Bulls and their general manager Marc Eversley were interested in acquiring the Sixers’ defensive wing. Eversley worked with the Philadelphia 76ers as a vice president of player staff from 2016 to 2020 and is rumored to be a key voice in drafting Thybulle back in 2019.
When looking at the Bulls roster, Zach LaVine and Patrick Williams should already be ruled out of the discussion. The Sixers may find themselves pivoting interest to either Alex Caruso or Javonte Green, and while both of those players are interesting, the most likely candidate is a player from the 2019 draft who has underwhelmed but is still full of potential.
Coby White brings a bit of size, a bit of ball-handling, and above all, shooting. The 76ers likely wouldn’t ask White to do much from a creation standpoint but would instead utilize him as a catch-and-shoot machine. What White was able to do in catch-and-shoot situations last season was truly impressive. He shot 40.6% from deep on 4.6 attempts per game; that percentage on that type of volume is only rivaled by sharpshooter Georges Niang on this Sixers roster.
White has improved as a shooter in each of his three seasons; while it’s unlikely he will ever shoot like former sharpshooters J.J. Redick or Seth Curry, the Sixers could groom him for that role in minutes paired with Joel Embiid.
1. Will Barton
The Sixers exhibit many needs, from shooting to size, athleticism, and playmaking. The Denver Nuggets’ Will Barton is all that wrapped into one. The 6-foot-6 wing averaged 14.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.9 assists last season for the Nuggets. His numbers may not have been the most efficient, but they were surely impacted by the increased role, having lost Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. for the entire season.
For the Philadelphia 76ers, Barton would fit perfectly either as a starter on the wing or perhaps even more so as the team’s sixth man. It may seem odd or disappointing trading Thybulle for a bench player, but that’s the value of a flawed one-way (especially defensive) player, and Barton wouldn’t just be any bench player. The 76ers’ bench needs a leader, as shown last season, and Barton, through both his scoring and passing prowess, is perfectly suited for that role.
Rumors have been spinning around fan circles for some time that the Denver Nuggets may be interested in Matisse Thybulle. The addition of Aaron Gordon at the 2021 trade deadline has helped to improve the team’s perimeter defense, but there’s still a long way to go. Matisse Thybulle could prove to be a difference-maker in Denver defensively.
As far as how to get Barton to Philly? To acquire Barton, the 76ers would also have to include Danny Green, who would likely interest Denver due to his leadership and contract ($10 million, one year remaining). Perhaps joining Denver’s pending deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder could be a sensical path?