The Los Angeles Lakers have added wing Matisse Thybulle on a one-year, veteran minimum contract, a team source confirmed to The Athletic, giving them a point-of-attack defender they desperately needed on what could be a high-value deal. The source spoke on the condition of anonymity because the deal is not yet official.
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Thybulle, 29, averaged 5.8 points, 2.0 rebounds and 0.9 assists in 30 games last season, making 39.8 percent of his 3-point shots. He finished last season healthy and will give the Lakers a high-end on-ball defender who can also make spot-up shots — a must on any Luka Dončić roster.
The source said Thybulle is currently fully healthy.
The Lakers have 16 players on their roster but do not have to trim it until the start of the regular season, so the team maintains options for trades, including consolidation deals.
In a summer with great roster turnover, the Lakers have added wings Quentin Grimes, Ziaire Williams and now Thybulle to address some of their defensive issues on the perimeter.
