Lakers Land Matisse Thybulle on One-Year Deal to Bolster Wing Defense
The Lakers have signed defensive specialist Matisse Thybulle to a one-year, $3.3 million deal, adding perimeter defense as the roster hits 16 contracts amid ongoing Jonathan Kuminga trade talks.
The Los Angeles Lakers have agreed to terms with free-agent forward Matisse Thybulle on a one-year, $3.3 million contract, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. The move adds a proven point-of-attack defender to a Lakers roster still reshaping itself around Luka Doncic, and it lands at a pivotal moment as Los Angeles continues to work the margins of free agency.
Thybulle, 29, spent the last three-plus seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers after starting his career with the Philadelphia 76ers, who selected the Washington product in the first round. A two-time NBA All-Defensive team member, he built his reputation on disruptive hands and elite lateral quickness rather than volume scoring, the exact kind of specialist teams lean on in the playoffs when possessions tighten and switching matters. Last season he appeared in just 30 games for Portland after a midseason knee injury, but he still averaged 1.8 steals and shot 37.4 percent from three, showing the defense-and-shooting profile intact even in limited minutes.
Why the Lakers Made the Move
According to reporting on the deal, Thybulle spoke directly with JJ Redick and Doncic during the recruiting process and chose Los Angeles specifically to help shore up the team’s wing defense. That’s been a persistent need for a Lakers roster that has already added Quentin Grimes and Ziaire Williams this offseason in pursuit of more perimeter stoppers. Thybulle reportedly discussed a reunion with Portland, but the Trail Blazers only offered non-guaranteed money during free agency, pushing him toward a fresh start. The two sides also explored a sign-and-trade that would have paid him more, but talks never advanced.
The efficiency numbers help explain the interest. Per ESPN Research, Thybulle led the NBA in both steals and deflections per 36 minutes last season among players who appeared in at least 20 games, and he shot 41.8 percent from three-point range over his last two seasons combined. For a Lakers team that has prioritized adding shooting and defense around its stars, that’s a rare combination at minimum-salary cost. Bettors tracking win totals and award markets on DraftKings promo code offers may see the Lakers’ odds shift as the roster fills out heading into training camp.
Roster Crunch and What Comes Next
The signing pushes the Lakers to 16 guaranteed contracts for 2026-27, one above the standard limit, though teams aren’t required to trim down until closer to the regular season. That gives Los Angeles roster flexibility to explore trades through opening night in late October, and the front office reportedly remains engaged on a sign-and-trade for restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga, whose market has stalled in recent days. Some in the league view the Thybulle deal as connected timing — a low-cost, low-risk depth add while a bigger swing for a starting-caliber forward remains unresolved.
Thybulle enters his eighth NBA season and likely won’t crack the starting five in Los Angeles, but he profiles as exactly the kind of bench piece contenders lean on come playoff time — a wing who can guard multiple positions and space the floor enough to stay on the court. With Doncic now the unquestioned centerpiece following LeBron James’s departure from the franchise, the front office’s recent additions suggest a clear plan: surround the roster’s offensive engines with as much defensive versatility as possible before camp opens.