Mar 22, 2023; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Matisse Thybulle (4) reacts to a foul call against the Utah Jazz in the third quarter at Vivint Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports
Everyone knows the names of the big free agents this NBA offseason. But several under-the-radar contributors could change everything.
This offseason, NBA free agency will be headlined by some big names such as Kyrie Irving, James Harden, and Khris Middleton, but there are some impact players who are flying under the radar.
In a superstar-driven league, these three dark horses have the potential to alter the landscape of the league. Let’s dive in.
Under-the-radar NBA free agents: 3. Matisse Thybulle
Thybulle is the type of player that every team needs. After being dealt to the Portland Trail Blazers at the trade deadline, the 26-year-old wing finally started realizing his two-way potential.
Since entering the NBA, Thybulle has been a great perimeter defender. He is a two-time NBA All-Defensive second-team selection (2021, 2022). On the other end, his offensive game lagged far behind. In the postseason, this became a real problem for the Philadelphia 76ers. During the 2022 playoffs, he shot only 28.6 percent from 3.
In Portland, Thybulle looked like a new player. He shot 38.8 percent from deep while taking 3.9 attempts per game (triple his amount with the Sixers). Not only was Thybulle more efficient, but he was also much more confident, knocking down open shots without hesitancy.
He will be a restricted free agent, and the Blazers will likely try to retain him. He is an ideal fit alongside the offensive-minded backcourt of Damian Lillard and Anfernee Simons. Still, I would not be surprised to see a contender try to acquire him.