Matisse Thybulle “desperately” wanted to be on the Dallas Mavericks, according to NBA insiders Chris Haynes and Marc Stein. Thybulle signed a three-year, $33 million offer sheet with the Mavericks, but the Portland Trail Blazers matched it.
“The vibe I’ve gotten is that Thybulle really did want to end up with Dallas,” Stein said on his podcast with Haynes. “This is something Thybulle’s been wanting even before this summer. Dallas has been talked about as a potential destination. The Mavericks have explored in the past pathways to trade for Thybulle.”
Added Haynes: “Matisse desperately wanted to be a member of the Dallas Mavericks.”
Thybulle played for the Philadelphia 76ers and Blazers last season. He averaged 4.1 points and 2.0 rebounds while shooting 43.5% from the field, 36.5% from beyond the arc and 67.9% from the free-throw line. The 26-year-old has made two All-Defensive teams in his career.
Thybulle has career averages of 4.6 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists with the Sixers and Blazers. He played his college basketball at Washington.
Dallas entered the offseason with Thybulle and Grant Williams atop its free-agent board. It looked like both players would land with the Mavericks after the Boston Celtics traded Williams to Dallas in a three-team trade with the San Antonio Spurs.
However, the Blazers decided to keep Thybulle despite Damian Lillard requesting a trade.
The Mavericks won 38 games last season despite having Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Dallas was 5-11 in games Doncic and Irving played together. That was the worst winning percentage (.313) for a pair of teammates who were both All-Stars since the ABA-NBA merger in 1976-77, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.
Despite the Mavericks struggling after the Irving trade, though, the front office re-signed the NBA champion to a three-year, $126 million contract. Irving averaged 27.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists in 20 games with the Mavericks last season.
Along with re-signing Irving and trading for Williams, the Mavericks brought back Seth Curry, re-signed Dwight Powell and signed Dante Exum. Powell agreed to re-sign with Dallas on a three-year contract worth $12 million, while Exum and the Mavericks agreed to a one-year, guaranteed contract for next season.
Curry, who has played for the Mavericks twice before, signed a two-year contract with Dallas.
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