Sixers' Joel Embiid Offered Strong Opinion on Matisse Thybulle

Joel Embiid campaigned for the Sixers to keep Matisse Thybulle.

The trade deadline came and went on Thursday, and the Philadelphia 76ers made their one deal before the time was up. As expected, the Sixers traded away their former first-round draft pick, Matisse Thybulle. 

For weeks, Thybulle's name frequently popped up in the rumor mill as a potential trade chip coming from the Sixers. Throughout the final days of the trade market being opened, Thybulle admitted he was prepared for whatever was to come.

On Wednesday night, the eve of the deadline, Thybulle’s star teammate Joel Embiid was asked about his thoughts on the deadline following the game against the Boston Celtics. While Embiid mentioned he doesn’t care much about the rumors going around, he reiterated a popular sentiment from other Sixers standouts.

“It’s a business,” said Embiid. “They understand it. I understand it. I’m in that position too. I’m an NBA player too. It doesn’t matter who you are. You never know what can happen in this league. Just come in and do your job, and whatever happens, happens.”

Embiid’s name wasn’t in any trade rumors this year, as he’s one of the Sixers’ very few untouchables. When asked what he thinks about the possibility of his team trading away Thybulle, Embiid made it clear that he prefers to have the defensive standout around and in the rotation.

Here’s what the big man said via Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer:

“Personally, I would love to have him,” Embiid said. “I think he’s one of our better defenders, especially on the perimeter. We don’t have a lot of guys that cause steals or blocks, and all that stuff, extra possessions. That takes extra possessions from the other teams. He’s someone that fits on every NBA team based on his defensive skill set. I think he helps us a lot. But then again, I don’t make the decisions.”

At that point, Thybulle was reportedly drawing interest from a third of the NBA. The several notable teams interested in the defensive standout were the Sacramento Kings, Golden State Warriors, Atlanta Hawks, and Dallas Mavericks.

Considering the fact that the Sixers did not reach an extension with Thybulle before the 2022-2023 season started, it became clear he might be a trade candidate before the deadline since he’s set to become a free agent for the first time this summer.

Embiid’s campaign to keep Thybulle didn't have enough impact on the front office’s plans. In the final hours of the trade market being open, Thybulle was moved in a trade to the Portland Trail Blazers.

In exchange, the Sixers received Charlotte Hornets wing Jalen McDaniels and two second-round picks while getting under the tax. It's currently unclear how Embiid feels about the latest acquisition, but the big man will more than likely miss having the defensive standout Thybulle around. 

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