DALLAS — Benchmarks for the NBA’s restricted free agency movement are approaching, and the Dallas Mavericks are ready to act.
Portland Trail Blazers restricted free agent Matisse Thybulle plans to sign an offer sheet with the Mavericks, a person familiar with the negotiations said Tuesday. NBA insider Chris Haynes first reported the news.
A 26-year-old wing, Thybulle’s two-time All-Defensive team credentials would mark a significant upgrade on the side of the ball Dallas has prioritized improving most this offseason.
But the NBA’s restricted free-agency calendar and loopholes make it unclear whether Thybulle will wear a Mavericks jersey by next fall.
Opposing teams can start extending offer sheets — the NBA’s lingo for proposed contracts — to their target restricted free agents on July 6. The new collective bargaining agreement allows incumbent teams 24 hours to decide whether to match the deal and keep the player on its roster or whether to part with the restricted free agent for no extra compensation.
The Mavericks can sign Thybulle to an offer sheet up to four years, $54 million as the full non-taxpayer mid-level exception.
As Portland evaluates trade options for superstar Damian Lillard, they could match that Mavericks-max offer to Thybulle without incurring luxury-tax penalties — unlike the Celtics would face if Dallas pursued Boston’s restricted free agent forward, Grant Williams, with similar terms.
Thybulle averaged 4.1 points and 1.3 rebounds in 12.2 minutes across 71 games last season. The Mavericks had reported interest in acquiring Thybulle from Philadelphia at the trade deadline in February, but the 76ers made a deal with the Trail Blazers instead.
In 22 games in Portland, Thybulle boosted his production to 7.4 points on 43.8% shooting and 3.5 rebounds as the Trail Blazers shut down Lillard and other key players down the stretch to boost their draft lottery odds.
Dallas isn’t pursuing Thybulle for his still-raw offense, though.
Annually one of the NBA’s most stout defenders, Thybulle has made two All-Defensive second teams (2021 and 2022) and averaged at least 1.5 steals a game through his first four NBA seasons.
A four-year college standout at Washington before his No. 20 overall draft selection in 2019, Thybulle ended his senior season as the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year after leading the NCAA in steals.
Thybulle’s connections to potential Mavericks teammates include overlap in Philadelphia with incoming free agent Seth Curry and bronze-medal victory with Josh Green and the Australian national team at the Tokyo Olympics.
