Mavs BREAKING: Matisse Thybulle Offer Sheet Update from Blazers

After agreeing to a sign-and-trade for Grant Williams from the Celtics, the Mavs got a three-year offer sheet signed by restricted free agent Matisse Thybulle - but the Blazers are matching.

DALLAS — The Dallas Mavs reached an agreement on a sign-and-trade to acquire Grant Williams from the Boston Celtics … but they wanted more by signing restricted free agent Matisse Thybulle to an offer sheet. 

Unfortunately - but not shockingly - the Blazers have opted to match the three-year, $33 million offer sheet.

During his 2022-23 campaign, Thybulle averaged 4.1 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 71 games. The 6-foot-5 wing is known for being a defensive playmaker in the passing lanes and making plays on the basketball, which has helped him to earn two All-Defensive Second Team nods in his NBA career. 

Thybulle was traded midseason to the Portland Trail Blazers, which afforded him a far greater opportunity to receive playing time than during his 49 games averaging 12.1 minutes per game with the Philadelphia 76ers. During his 22 starts with the Blazers, he averaged 7.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.7 steals, while shooting 38.8 percent from 3.

With the Mavs coming off a season ranking 25th in defensive rating, there was a clear need to improve on that end. The initial moves involved adding Dereck Lively II and Olivier-Maxence Prosper in the NBA Draft, but it's difficult to count on rookies making an immediate impact on winning basketball. 

"I think for us going into the offseason, the two biggest things that we need to work on is defense and rebounding," Mavs general manager Nico Harrison said during his exit interview. "That's going to be addressed."

By adding Williams into the mix and maybe more (even without Thybulle) the Mavs would be continuing to progress in accomplishing needed defensive improvement. Williams can fill the void of handling bigger perimeter matchups … with Dallas search for more help marching on,

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Grant Afseth is a Dallas Mavericks reporter for DallasBasketball.com and an NBA reporter for NBA Analysis Network. He previously covered the Indiana Pacers and NBA for CNHI's Kokomo Tribune and various NBA teams for USA TODAY Sports Media Group. Follow him on Twitter (@grantafseth), Facebook (@grantgafseth), and YouTube (@grantafseth).

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