Breaking: Blazers Make Decision On Matisse Thybulle

It took less than 24 hours for the Portland Trail Blazers to make their decision after wing defensive specialist Matisse Thybulle agreed to an offer sheet from the Dallas Mavericks. The Blazers will be retaining Thybulle, matching the Mavs' offer.

Matisse Thybulle’s new three-year, $33 million deal that Portland matched contains a 15 percent trade kicker, a player option, and 50 percent of annual salary must be paid by Oct. 1, league sources tell @NBAonTNT, @BleacherReport.

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) July 6, 2023

As reported by NBA Insider Chris Haynes, the restricted free agent gets a new 3-year, $33M contract ($11M per season) to keep him in the Pacific Northwest. Other goodies it includes: a 15% trade kicker if he is ever dealt, a player option, and 50% of his annual salary is paid before the season, by October 1st. 

It's a big raise from the $4.4M Thybulle was earning on his expiring rookie deal. 

The 26-year-old was acquired by the Blazers at the trade deadline this past season, after playing "in fear", he admitted, the first half of the year with the Philadelphia 76ers. That would explain his miserable start to last season, as he averaged just 2.7 points per game, and watched his three-point percentage dip from 36.5% the previous year, to just 33% to start 2022-23. 

But he regained his confidence upon landing in Portland, and averaged 7.4 points, 3.5 rebounds and 38.8% on threes in 22 games with the Blazers. 

As for the Mavericks, they'll now have to look elsewhere for a boost in perimeter defense. 

Photo: Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports