The Los Angeles Lakers have added another defensive specialist to their roster, with free agent Matisse Thybulle agreeing to a one-year contract worth $3.3 million, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
The move gives head coach JJ Redick another proven perimeter defender as Los Angeles continues reshaping its roster around Luka Doncic.
Both Redick and Doncic spoke directly with Thybulle during free agency, outlining the role they envisioned for him before he ultimately chose the Lakers, according to Charania.
Defense has always been Thybulle’s calling card. The two-time NBA All-Defensive Team selection remains one of the league’s most disruptive perimeter players and continued to showcase that ability last season.
He led the NBA in both steals and deflections per 36 minutes among players who appeared in at least 20 games.
While his defensive reputation is well established, Thybulle has also become a more reliable perimeter shooter. Across the past two seasons, he knocked down 41.8 percent of his three-point attempts, although injuries limited him to just 45 total appearances during that stretch.
The Lakers also explored a potential sign-and-trade agreement with the Trail Blazers that would have allowed Thybulle to secure a larger contract, but the two organizations were ultimately unable to reach an agreement, according to Charania.
The signing leaves Los Angeles with 16 guaranteed contracts, meaning further roster moves could still be on the horizon before the regular season begins in late October.
The Lakers have also continued to monitor the free-agent market. The organization held discussions with unrestricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga during the offseason, although those negotiations have yet to produce a deal, according to ESPN.
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