Sixers trade Matisse Thybulle to Blazers, add Hornets’ Jalen McDaniels
The Sixers are set to add Jalen McDaniels and send Matisse Thybulle to the Portland Trail Blazers as part of a multi-team deal before Thursday afternoons trade deadline, a source confirmed to NBC Sports Philadelphia.
Sounds like this deal could be expanding involving more picks, so everyone standby for now. https://t.co/DWMUKFkrRX
Thybulle made the NBAs All-Defensive Second Team in each of the last two seasons. Hes a preternatural gambler and exceptionally productive at picking up steals and blocks. The 25-year-olds 2.7 steals per 36 minutes this season lead the league.
Thybulle was ineligible for games in Toronto last postseason because he was not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and had a disappointing playoffs overall. He began this season on the fringe of head coach Doc Rivers’ rotation. Though he ultimately cracked it, the 2019 first-round pick rarely played extended minutes and averaged only 12.1 per game. Offense has remained a work in progress for Thybulle, though he felt he was approaching the game the right way.
I think Im in a good place confidence-wise, he told NBC Sports Philadelphia on Wednesday night before the Sixers loss to the Celtics. Finding places to impact the game offensively is always going to be a challenge with this kind of team, but Im continuing to grow, find new ways and create new niches for myself.
McDaniels is also a 25-year-old wing whos been good at forcing turnovers this season. Per Cleaning the Glass, hes in the 87th percentile for steal rate among wings and in the 90th percentile for block rate.
Like with Thybulle, this will be the 6-foot-9 McDaniels first move from the team that drafted him. The Hornets took him 52nd overall in 2019 after he spent two college seasons at San Diego State. He’ll be a free agent following this season.
McDaniels has played every game this year for the 15-41 Hornets and averaged a career-best 10.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists. Hes shot a career-low 32.2 percent from three-point range on 3.6 attempts per contest.
His younger brother, Jaden McDaniels, is a member of the Timberwolves.
More to come
