Trade Candidate Would Block Trade To Bucks To Avoid Their New Coach

The Milwaukee Bucks are trying to set themselves up for a run down the stretch this season. The first major shoe to drop was the firing of rookie coach Adrian Griffin and the hiring of veteran coach Doc Rivers. Next up will be a serious attempt to upgrade their perimeter defense at the trade deadline. 

However, one of the top defensive players on the market at the deadline, Portland Trail Blazers wing Matisse Thybulle, would veto any attempted trade to the Bucks — to avoid having to play under Doc Rivers again. That's the word from Blazers Insider Sean Highkin:

Worth keeping in mind: Matisse Thybulle (mentioned in here as Bucks trade target) has veto rights over any deal for the first year because he had an RFA offer sheet matched.

I don't think he's signing off on a trade to Milwaukee in light of the coaching hire they just made. https://t.co/E9f6zddyv6

— Sean Highkin (@highkin) January 24, 2024

As Highkin notes, Thybulle has veto rights over any trade for a year due to the fact that he had an RFA offer sheet matched. The defensive dynamo obviously doesn't think too highly of Rivers after the coach buried him in Philadelphia in their last season together. After seeing 25 minutes a night and starting 50 of his 66 games in 2021-22, Thybulle was practically out of the rotation in 2022-23, playing just 12 minutes a night while averaging just 2.7 points. 

As Highkin says, "I don't think he's signing off on a trade to Milwaukee in light of the coaching hire they just made."

This season in Portland, Thybulle is averaging 1.6 steals per game, and nearly one blocked shot, while upping his three-point shooting to 36.7% from a career mark of under 34%. In his five NBA seasons, the 26-year-old former first-round pick is a two-time NBA All-Defensive Team member, while averaging 4.7 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game.

Photo: Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports