Lakers secure Thybulle in $3.3m deal, pushing roster to 16 contracts
The acquisition of the two-time All-Defensive Team selection addresses perimeter defence needs but creates a roster crunch ahead of the NBA’s mandatory reduction deadline.
The Los Angeles Lakers have agreed to a one-year, $3.3 million contract with free agent wing Matisse Thybulle, a move designed to bolster the team’s defensive structure following the departure of Marcus Smart to the Houston Rockets. The agreement, first reported on Monday by sources citing ESPN, The Athletic, and the New York Post, brings the 29-year-old guard-forward into the fold as the franchise seeks to address a structural imbalance in its backcourt.
Thybulle, a two-time NBA All-Defensive Team selection, arrives alongside fellow new acquisition Ziaire Williams, who signed for the minimum salary earlier in the week. Both players were among the league leaders in deflections per 36 minutes last season, offering the disruptive off-ball presence the Lakers require. Thybulle previously earned spots on the NBA’s All-Defensive Second Team during his tenure with the Philadelphia 76ers.
The signing brings the Lakers’ roster to 16 players, all holding guaranteed contracts. While the offseason maximum allows for 21 players, the NBA mandates a reduction to 15 guaranteed contracts by a specific deadline. This latest addition necessitates a future decision on roster management, particularly given the team’s history of injuries among key players which may impact available spots.
During the 2025-26 season, Thybulle appeared in 30 games for the Portland Trail Blazers, averaging 5.8 points, 2.0 rebounds, 2.0 steals, and 0.9 assists per game. He also made nearly 40% of his three-point attempts last season, adding a layer of spacing to his defensive profile. Over his career, spanning 377 appearances, he has averaged 5.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.6 steals, and 1.1 assists per game.
Thybulle’s journey to Los Angeles began when he was selected by the Boston Celtics as the 20th overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, only to be traded the next day to the Philadelphia 76ers. He was subsequently traded to the Trail Blazers in 2023, where he signed a three-year, $33 million contract. He played on an $11.5 million player option last season before becoming a free agent.
