Lakers To Sign Matisse Thybulle To One-Year Contract
The Lakers are signing forward Matisse Thybulle on a one-year, $3.3MM contract, ESPN’s Shams Charania tweets.
That’ll be a veteran’s minimum deal for Thybulle, whose minimum salary this season is $3,286,399. He’ll earn that amount while the club carries a cap hit of $2,449,421.
As Lakers reporter Jovan Buha points out (Twitter link), the addition of Thybulle will bring Los Angeles to 16 players on standard guaranteed contracts. The team will have to waive or trade at least one of them by opening night to reach the 15-man limit. The Lakers’ interest in signing Thybulle was reported by multiple outlets.
Since entering the league in 2019 in Philadelphia, Thybulle has established himself as a defensive ace, though his offensive contributions are modest. During his 377 career games, he’s averaged 5.0 points and 1.1 assists in 20.6 minutes per game. He made the All-Defensive second team in 2021 and 2022.
Thybulle has spent the last three-and-a-half seasons with the Trail Blazers, though he hasn’t played much the past two campaigns. He was limited to 45 games due to ankle, knee and thumb injuries. He was healthy to finish the 2025/26 campaign and was playing rotation minutes for Portland down the stretch.
Thybulle joins a revamped Lakers roster with a number of options at the wing positions, led by Austin Reaves and free agent addition Quentin Grimes. Since its flurry of moves early in free agency, the team has focused on upgrading its perimeter defense, finalizing a deal with Ziaire Williams over the weekend before reaching an agreement with Thybulle.
Lakers Rumors: Kuminga, Thybulle, Kaluma, Assistant GM Opening
Momentum has “stalled” on the Lakers‘ pursuit of free agent forward Jonathan Kuminga, according to Dan Woike of The Athletic. Rumors connecting Kuminga to Los Angeles have been ongoing since late June, but Woike hears that the Lakers and Hawks are still far apart on terms of a potential deal and L.A. isn’t “overly motivated” to include significant draft assets in any of its sign-and-trade offers.
However, Woike cautions that a potential Kuminga deal isn’t dead because it’s still the “biggest upside play” remaining for the Lakers’ offseason. Cleveland also reportedly has interest in Kuminga, but Woike can envision the Lakers reemerging as a possibility if the market remains slow.
Kuminga became a free agent when Atlanta declined its $24.3MM team option for next season. No team has enough remaining cap space to make the kind of offer that Kuminga is seeking, so he may have to rely on a sign-and-trade. It’s not clear how much interest the Hawks have in re-signing him, especially after adding forward Luguentz Dort in a three-team trade on Sunday.
There’s more on the Lakers:
- Woike confirms a recent report from The Stein Line that L.A. has interest in free agent wing Matisse Thybulle. He notes that injuries are the main concern with Thybulle, who played just 45 games over the past two years, but adds that he was healthy at the end of last season and could provide a low-cost three-and-D option. The team is also hoping to add another big man, team sources tell Woike.
- The Lakers may have to move quickly to sign Arthur Kaluma to a two-way contract before another team does, Woike adds. The 6’7″ forward, who played for the team’s G League affiliate last season, was one of the top performers in Summer League, averaging 18.6 PPG while shooting 60.9% from the floor and 50% from beyond the arc. Woike notes that current two-way players Chris Manon, AK Okereke and Peter Suder might be expendable, although Okereke impressed the coaching staff with his defense and shooting.
- Scouts in Las Vegas were wondering when president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka plans to name his second assistant general manager, per Woike. Rohan Ramadas was hired in May to run the team’s analytics department, and Pelinka said after the season ended that he also wants someone to oversee player development and scouting. The Lakers began conducting interviews for the position during the season, and league sources tell Woike that there’s external confusion about the process. He adds that Minnesota’s Steve Senior and Philadelphia’s Prosper Karangwa are believed to have turned down offers from L.A. to remain with their current teams.
Lakers Show Interest In Matisse Thybulle
The Lakers remain on the lookout for upgrades to their perimeter defense and have registered interest in free agent wing Matisse Thybulle, reports Marc Stein of The Stein Line (Twitter link).
Thybulle, 29, has been limited to just 45 total appearances over the past two seasons due to ankle, knee, and thumb injuries, but he was healthy to finish the 2025/26 campaign and was playing rotation minutes for Portland down the stretch.
The former 20th overall pick has never been much of an offensive threat, with career averages of 5.0 points and 1.1 assists per game on .438/.349/.683 shooting. However, Thybulle is one of the league’s most talented defenders. He made the All-Defensive second team in 2021 and 2022 with Philadelphia and has averaged 1.6 steals in 20.6 minutes per game over the course of his career, including 2.1 SPG in 17.6 MPG over the last two years with the Blazers.
Unless they work out a sign-and-trade, the Lakers – who used up all their cap space and their room exception – don’t have the ability to offer more than the veteran’s minimum to a free agent. And even if Thybulle is willing to sign for the minimum, adding him would give the Lakers 16 players on standard contracts once they officially finalize their agreement with Ziaire Williams, who recently agreed to a one-year deal.
Still, those complications don’t appear to be dissuading Los Angeles from continuing to explore the market for help on the wing. Stein notes that the team has also maintained interest in potential sign-and-trade target Jonathan Kuminga. For what it’s worth, if the Lakers were to send out two players for salary-matching purposes in a sign-and-trade for Kuminga, it would open up a spot on the projected 15-man roster for Thybulle.
Latest On Possible Lakers Sign-And-Trade For Kuminga
July 10: While it’s believed that the Lakers want to package Vanderbilt and a 2032 first-round swap in a sign-and-trade for Kuminga, the Hawks have been resistant to taking back Vanderbilt in that sort of deal, sources tell Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link), contradicting Price’s reporting (outlined below).
According to Fischer, Kuminga is seeking a more lucrative contract than the two-year, $20MM offer the Lakers initially put on the table, and there may be multi-team trade scenarios in play involving Vanderbilt that would allow Los Angeles to increase that offer. If that comes to pass, Vanderbilt would end up with a non-Atlanta team.
If Kuminga does leave the Hawks, it seems like to happen via sign-and-trade, Fischer adds. In that case, the free agent forward would have to receive at least a three-year contract, though only the first season would need to be fully guaranteed.
July 8: The Hawks would have interest in a sign-and-trade sending Jonathan Kuminga to the Lakers in exchange for Jarred Vanderbilt and a first-round pick swap with L.A. in 2032, a source tells Khobi Price of The California Post.
It’s the only way the Lakers can include a first-rounder in the deal after sending two of them, along with two swaps, to Utah in the Walker Kessler trade. L.A. also has three future second-rounders to offer.
The Lakers’ desire to add Kuminga is well known, but they are currently limited to a minimum-salary offer after remaking their roster via a flurry of moves. A sign-and-trade is their most realistic path toward giving Kuminga a larger contract, although he still may get better offers from other teams as an unrestricted free agent.
Reporting earlier in the week indicated that the Lakers were “looking at’ a potential two-year, $20MM offer for Kuminga, and Price confirms they’ve been willing to do an average annual salary in the range of $10MM. A sign-and-trade would require at least a three-year deal, though only the first season would need to be guaranteed.
Vanderbilt has two seasons remaining on the four-year, $48MM extension he signed in 2023. The veteran forward will make $12.4MM next season and holds a $13.3MM player option for 2027/28.
Multiple sources inform Price that the Lakers are willing to part with Vanderbilt and other players in their attempt to upgrade the current roster.
Price cites another source who confirms the Cavaliers‘ interest in Kuminga, who would reunite with head coach Kenny Atkinson, a former Golden State assistant, if he winds up in Cleveland. However, the Cavs’ pursuit of any free agents is on hold as they wait to hear where LeBron James will play next season.
Price notes that the Lakers are searching for wings with “size, athleticism, defense and youth,” adding that it’s not clear who the next target will be if they don’t land Kuminga. He states that they looked into Ziaire Williams after the Nets declined his $6.25MM team option for next season, and mentions Bruce Brown, Matisse Thybulle and Ochai Agbaji as other available free agents.
L.A. has been linked to Mavericks forward P.J. Washington in the past, but Price hears that the team isn’t willing to take on the $88.8MM he’s owed over the next four seasons.
Free Agent Rumors: Kessler, Powell, Blazers, Simmons, Suns, Payton
Center Walker Kessler will meet with multiple teams when free agency opens on Tuesday evening, reports Tony Jones of The Athletic (via Twitter). According to Jones, the meetings will be held at CAA headquarters in Los Angeles.
Jones reported earlier on Monday that the Jazz formally issued Kessler a qualifying offer, making the 7’2″ big man a restricted free agent. Utah now has the right of first refusal on Kessler, giving the team the ability to match any offer sheet he might receive from a rival team.
Kessler and the Jazz have engaged in contract negotiations during Utah’s exclusive negotiating period. The team reportedly put a five-year offer worth approximately $140MM on the table, but the center and his camp were said to be unhappy about the way those talks were going.
Although “several” teams are expected to express interest in Kessler, the belief around the NBA is that he’ll eventually return to the Jazz, per Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints. Siegel also hears Utah is in the market for a veteran guard to add to their young backcourt.
Here are some more rumors on ahead of tomorrow’s free agency, with several players already agreeing to return to their respective teams:
- Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported on Sunday that the Bulls are among the possible suitors for Norman Powell, and Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal has heard the same. Powell isn’t expected to explore sign-and-trade scenarios from the Heat, a source tells Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press (Twitter link). The 33-year-old wing made his first All-Star team in 2025/26, having averaged 21.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.1 steals on .470/.380/.827 shooting in 58 games (29.6 minutes per game).
- In a story that was published shortly before the Trail Blazers agreed to trade for two-time All-Star point guard Ja Morant, Joe Freeman of The Oregonian reported that Portland was interested in re-signing free agents Robert Williams, Matisse Thybulle and Blake Wesley “if the deal makes sense.” There’s mutual interest in a reunion with Williams, according to Freeman. This is just my speculation, but pending additional roster moves, Wesley seems less likely to return after adding Morant to a crowded backcourt.
- Speaking to Clay Skipper of Men’s Health, former NBA star Ben Simmons says he’s considering making a comeback attempt after he was out of the league this past season, as Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN.com relays. “I plan on getting as strong as I can physically, getting my ass on the court, and then the team realizing that my abilities will be needed,” Simmons said. “I don’t have a plan on where.”
- The Suns are looking for a guard with the taxpayer mid-level exception, per John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 (Twitter link). Of the six players Gambadoro listed, two — Kevin Huerter (Pistons) and Landry Shamet (Knicks) have reportedly agreed to re-sign with their respective teams. The other four guards are Luke Kennard, Collin Sexton, Jordan Clarkson and De’Anthony Melton.
- According to Siegel, Warriors guard Gary Payton II is interested in re-signing with Golden State on a minimum-salary contract.
Trail Blazers Notes: Williams, Thybulle, Henderson
Robert Williams raised his projected value by putting together a relatively healthy season and may have increased his chances of staying with the Trail Blazers, Keith Smith of Spotrac writes in his preview of the team’s offseason. Portland’s most important free agent decision will be whether to re-sign the 28-year-old center, who earned $13.3MM this year.
Injuries limited Williams to 26 combined games in his first two seasons with the Blazers, but he managed to play 59 this year, his highest total since 2021/22. Serving as a veteran backup to Donovan Clingan, Williams averaged 6.7 points and 7.0 rebounds in 17.1 minutes per night while shooting 70.8% from the field and providing an interior defensive presence with 1.5 blocks per game.
Smith notes that several teams are in the market for center help, including the Lakers, who have plenty of cap space, so keeping Williams likely won’t be cheap. Smith projects a new contract using Williams’ Bird rights at around $36MM over two years or $54MM for three years if the team can partially or non-guarantee the final season. However, he cautions that $20MM per year is too much to spend considering Williams’ injury history and advises the Blazers to look elsewhere if the price gets that high.
There’s more from Portland:
- It’s less certain if the Trail Blazers want to keep Matisse Thybulle, who’s also heading into free agency, Smith adds. The 29-year-old swingman only appeared in 30 games this season, and Smith points out that Portland has plenty of wings who are ahead of him in the rotation. Smith suggests that Thybulle’s value is probably around $8-10MM per season, but that might be too expensive for the Blazers unless they plan to part with some of their other wing players.
- Apart from free agency, Portland faces a tricky financial decision on Scoot Henderson, who will be eligible for a rookie scale extension this summer. Henderson missed most of the season, but he played well during the closing stretch and the playoffs. Henderson was the No. 3 pick in the 2023 draft, but his shot hasn’t improved much in his three NBA seasons and he’ll face a tough battle for playing time, especially with Damian Lillard‘s expected return. Smith believes the Blazers might explore trade options involving Henderson and may decide to see what he can do next season before negotiating with him as a restricted free agent.
- A return to Boston might be in the cards for Williams, suggests Souichi Terada of MassLive. Neemias Queta showed he could handle the starter’s role this season, but the Celtics need a reliable backup after the trade for Nikola Vucevic failed to work out. Williams spent the first five seasons of his career in Boston before being traded in 2023.
Blazers Notes: Holiday, Camara, Thybulle, Hansen, Murray
After the Trail Blazers were eliminated from the playoffs by San Antonio, guard Jrue Holiday made it clear he wants to back in Portland again for 2026/27, according to Joe Freeman of The Oregonian.
“I hope so. I don’t like being traded and moved and stuff,” Holiday said. “I like being a part of something and building with the team and seeing the progress and going through the progress with them. So I hope so. I’d love to be here.
“Honestly, just kind of how we ended the season, fighting and clawing, knowing that we have a team that has proven ourselves to some extent to be a playoff team. We have a good mix of older gentlemen and then young guys that are still hungry. You hear them. They’re still in the gym now and it’s been two days (since) we lost in the playoffs. So I’m really excited for that.”
Freeman reviews Holiday’s season, writing that the veteran guard provided much of what the team wanted when it traded for him last June, though injuries and “inexplicable” turnovers were an issue in the 35-year-old’s first season in Portland. Freeman also spoke to a couple of NBA scouts to get their opinion on Holiday — both praised his professionalism, but one said he’s overpaid while acknowledging he could be an invaluable mentor to Scoot Henderson.
Here’s more on the Blazers:
- Freeman’s season review series continues with third-year forward Toumani Camara, who played all 82 regular season games and finished fourth in the NBA in total minutes. Camara was critical of his performance in 2025/26, calling it “up and down,” but he was still pleased with some of the strides he made. “I think he’s a solid player and a piece that you keep for the future and just keep developing him,” a scout told Freeman. “He’s 26, so he’s an older third-year guy. He’s probably not developing a new skillset. But he keeps getting better with his shooting and he defends. His IQ and rebounding are good; he’s a good offensive and defensive rebounder for his position and he’s a smart player who plays within himself, doesn’t try to do stuff he doesn’t do. This is a piece you keep and grow with. He would be great if you put better players around him.”
- Veteran wing Matisse Thybulle says he has “no expectations” ahead of unrestricted free agency, according to Freeman, but added that he’d “love” to return to the Blazers. Injuries were a major issue for Thybulle over the past two seasons, as he appeared in just 45 regular season games over the span, but he was playing a rotation role at the end of 2025/26. Both scouts Freeman spoke to praised Thybulle’s anticipation skills as a defensive roamer, but said he’s not nearly as good at on-ball defense. One scout said the Blazers should let Thybulle walk in free agency due to availability concerns. “All I’ve heard about him is he doesn’t want to play basketball,” one scout said. “So are you really going to count on him to produce for you when you’re trying to win games?“
- Freeman also reviews the seasons (subscriber links) of Yang Hansen, the 2025 first-round pick who just finished his rookie campaign, and third-year forward Kris Murray, who’s entering the final year of his rookie scale contract. To put it kindly, neither scout Freeman talked to was high on Murray’s game. “I just don’t understand what they’re doing with him,” one scout told the Oregonian. “I think this is a kid they just missed on. Is he a power forward? Is he a small forward? He probably needs to be a small forward, but he can’t do that. I would just try to move on from this kid, to be honest.”
And-Ones: Fertitta, WNBA, Cotton, Refs, Diakite
The WNBA’s and NBA’s Board of Governors have approved the sale of the Connecticut Sun to Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta, according to Doug Feinberg of The Associated Press.
While the Sun will finish the current season in Connecticut, the plan for 2027 is for the franchise to relocate to Houston, where the team is expected to be rebranded as the Comets. The original iteration of the Houston Comets competed in the WNBA from 1997-2008 before folding.
According to Alexa Philippou of ESPN (Twitter link), the Comets won’t have a standalone practice facility in Houston. The plan is for the team to practice at Toyota Center, which is in the process of undergoing a $180MM renovation project in order to update its infrastructure. The Comets will share the building with the Rockets.
Here are a few more odds and ends from around the basketball world:
- American-born guard Bryce Cotton, a six-time MVP in Australia’s National Basketball League, will suit up for the Australian national team during July’s World Cup qualifiers after becoming a citizen last September, reports ESPN’s Olgun Uluc. In a separate story for ESPN, Uluc examines how Cotton’s eligibility will impact the Boomers going forward, noting that the team can’t have more than one naturalized player on its roster in the World Cup or Olympics. That means either Cotton or Matisse Thybulle would be an odd man out.
- The National Basketball Players Association announced the findings of its annual referee player survey on Wednesday, dividing the league’s officials into three tiers based on player feedback. The 26 referees in the first tier are considered “elite and top performers,” while the 27 in the second tier are viewed as “solid performers.” The 20 in the third tier fall under the heading “needs improvement.”
- On the heels of a strong EuroLeague season with Baskonia in Spain, former NBA big man Mamadi Diakite is believed be nearing a deal with Dubai Basketball, according to a report from BasketNews.com. Diakite, 29, appeared in a total of 55 NBA regular season games for Milwaukee, Oklahoma City, Cleveland, San Antonio, and New York from 2021-24.
- The NBA announced tentative schedules for the conference finals on Wednesday, as Adam Zagoria of NJ.com relays (via Twitter). The Eastern Conference finals will begin on either Sunday or Tuesday, depending on whether the Cavaliers and Pistons require a Game 7, while the Western finals will tip off on either Monday or Wednesday, pending the results of Friday’s Game 6 between the Spurs and Timberwolves. The Knicks and Thunder await the winners of those conference semifinals.
Blazers Notes: Camara, Splitter, Offseason, Dundon
After being eliminated from the playoffs in a Game 5 loss in San Antonio on Tuesday, young players like Toumani Camara, Scoot Henderson and Deni Avdija came away encouraged by the Trail Blazers‘ first postseason appearance in five years, writes Joe Freeman of The Oregonian.
“My first two years, I was trying to figure out what the main goal was for this team, where we’re trying to go, what we have, what was our mission,” Camara said. “Well, now we have more of a clear view of what we can do and what we can accomplish. So I think it’s very promising. We have a lot of talent. We have a group of great-character guys. I’m just very excited for what we’ve got coming.”
As Freeman notes, Portland overcame a significant amount of adversity to make the playoffs. Head coach Chauncey Billups was placed on indefinite leave following the first game of the season after being arrested on federal charges related to illegal gambling, and the team endured several injuries throughout 2025/26.
“We had a crazy year, man,” Camara said. “We’ve battled all year. It’s a tough league. It’s a tough league to win. But we stuck together, believed in one another throughout all the ups and downs, and I think it was a positive season for us, especially the way we were able to end things. We didn’t get the results or play the way we wanted during the playoffs. But it was our first time for a lot of us and we’re learning, still trying to build connection. I think it’s only positive things and nowhere to go but up from here.”
Here’s more on the Blazers:
- A year ago, Bill Oram of The Oregonian was skeptical of the team’s direction, but he viewed this season as a major success and now believes the Blazers are trending in a positive direction. Oram argues fans shouldn’t lose perspective on all the promising developments of ’25/26, despite the team being overmatched against the Spurs.
- Veteran wing Matisse Thybulle lauded Tiago Splitter‘s performance as interim head coach, according to Brenna Greene of KOIN News (Twitter video link). “There’s a term where, if its late in the shot clock and someone throws you the ball because they don’t have a good look and you have to shoot it with no time left, they call it a grenade. In a sense that’s kind of what Tiago was thrown,” Thybulle said. “… It’s in some cases a bit of miracle, but in our world, even if you overachieve, it can still be disappointing to people. … As far as I’m concerned, Tiago did an amazing job.”
- Thybulle is one of many Blazers who’s supportive of Splitter, according to Sean Highkin of The Rose Garden Report (subscriber link), who thinks the former NBA big man has “more than earned” the full-time job. Finding a permanent head coach will be the first order of business in Portland, but there are several other big questions facing the team this summer, Highkin writes, mostly centered on new owner Tom Dundon and how his involvement will impact the organization going forward. Highkin views Camara, Avdija and Donovan Clingan as the team’s core, with shooting an obvious area of need going forward.
- Within his offseason preview, ESPN’s Bobby Marks also points to Dundon as a wild card this summer, since he may or may not push the team to be ultra-aggressive. Robert Williams and Thybulle are among Portland’s potential free agents, with Henderson eligible for a rookie scale extension.
- Dundon has been heavily criticized for a series of cost-cutting measures in his first month-plus as major owner. However, he recently opened his wallet to make another investment in pickleball, per Ben Axelrod of Front Office Sports.
Free Agent Stock Watch: Northwest Division
For the rest of the regular season and postseason, Hoops Rumors is taking a closer look at players who will be free agents – or could become free agents – during the 2026 offseason. We’ll consider whether each player’s stock is rising or falling due to his performance and several other factors.
Today, we’re focusing on a handful of players in the Northwest Division, starting with the defending champions.
