There are reports from Philadelphia that in accordance with wanting to offer a significant contract to former Buck PJ Tucker, the Philadelphia 76ers are looking to possibly trade point guard Matisse Thybulle, according to Keith Pompey of the Philly Inquirer. Could the Milwaukee Bucks be a potential fit for Thybulle?
It’s no secret that the Milwaukee Bucks are in need of solid backup guards, while they could look to target one in the draft, perhaps the Milwaukee Bucks could make a move to acquire one before the draft begins tonight, Thybulle being a much more realistic target than someone like Damian Lillard. There are a few reasons that a Thybulle to the Bucks trade could make sense.
Milwaukee Bucks a good fit for Matisse Thybulle: Defense
Matisse Thybulle is known as a defensive hound, reflected by back to back NBA All-Defensive Second Team honors in 2021 and 2022. Two All-NBA Defense selections despite just three seasons in the NBA is impressive. During the 2021-22 season Thybulle averaged 1.7 steals and despite being 6’5″ also averaged 1.1 blocks during 25.5 minutes per game.
Essentially, Matisse Thybulle would give the Milwaukee Bucks the opportunity to get younger at a key role that was played by Wesley Matthews last season. While the Bucks could certainly still bring Matthews back to play situational defense, the old adage “defense wins championships” applies and Mike Budenholzer has always prioritized it.
Milwaukee Bucks a good fit for Matisse Thybulle: George Hill back to PHI?
George Hill could be potentially swapped in a deal for Matisse Thybulle to give the 76ers some financial flexibility beyond next season, he’s on the books for $4 million in 2022-23, just under the $4.3 million Thybulle is set to make, however Thybulle also will be a restricted free agent next season with a $6.2 million qualifying offer, if the 76ers are looking to create cap room, a George Hill reunion could help them accomplish that.
George Hill did spend the second half of the 2020-21 season with the 76ers and would have some familiarity with 76ers coach Doc Rivers should the 76ers choose to hold on to Hill. In addition to Hill, the Milwaukee Bucks could dangle one of their stable of second round picks to the 76ers to make up for the age difference between the two and potentially soften the blow of trading a first round pick away elsewhere, another rumor that the 76ers are exploring to clear cap space for PJ Tucker.
Milwaukee Bucks a good fit for Matisse Thybulle: Youth
The Milwaukee Bucks had one of the oldest teams in the NBA in 2021-22 based on average age, based on the players on the roster at the end of the season the average age of players on the Bucks was 28.2. The Milwaukee Bucks could certainly do with an infusion of youth on this team. Especially youth to contribute defensively.
Adding a young perimeter defender could assist the Bucks greatly in their need to defend the 3-point line better, an area that ultimately led to their being ousted from the 2022 NBA Playoffs just over a month ago. Thybulle fits that bill, per 36 minutes Thybulle averages 2.5 steals and 1.5 blocks. In addition, in 66 games, opponent 3-point percentage against Matisse Thybulle during the 2021-22 season was just 32.2 percent, the Milwaukee Bucks as a team allowed 35.6 percent, the fourth highest percentage among eventual playoff teams.
If the 76ers are serious about saving cap space, trading Matisse Thybulle to the Bucks for George Hill and a second round pick could potentially help them, more so in 2023 than 2022, but ultimately helpful avoiding the decision to match offers for Thybulle next offseason as opposed to the expiring contract of George Hill.