Lakers Show Interest In Matisse Thybulle

Thybulle, 29, has been limited to just 45 total appearances over the past two seasons due to ankle, knee, and thumb injuries, but he was healthy to finish the 2025/26 campaign and was playing rotation minutes for Portland down the stretch.

The former 20th overall pick has never been much of an offensive threat, with career averages of 5.0 points and 1.1 assists per game on .438/.349/.683 shooting. However, Thybulle is one of the league’s most talented defenders. He made the All-Defensive second team in 2021 and 2022 with Philadelphia and has averaged 1.6 steals in 20.6 minutes per game over the course of his career, including 2.1 SPG in 17.6 MPG over the last two years with the Blazers.

Unless they work out a sign-and-trade, the Lakers – who used up all their cap space and their room exception – don’t have the ability to offer more than the veteran’s minimum to a free agent. And even if Thybulle is willing to sign for the minimum, adding him would give the Lakers 16 players on standard contracts once they officially finalize their agreement with Ziaire Williams, who recently agreed to a one-year deal.

Still, those complications don’t appear to be dissuading Los Angeles from continuing to explore the market for help on the wing. Stein notes that the team has also maintained interest in potential sign-and-trade target Jonathan Kuminga. For what it’s worth, if the Lakers were to send out two players for salary-matching purposes in a sign-and-trade for Kuminga, it would open up a spot on the projected 15-man roster for Thybulle.