Minnesota Timberwolves: Five players to target if Wolves trade back
By Jack Borman
4. Matisse Thybulle
2018-19 stats
9.1 PPG on 41.5% field goal, 30.5% 3-point, and 85.1% shooting, 3.1 REB, 2.1 AST, 3.5 STL, 2.3 BLK per game
Despite already having a young, defensive-minded player in Josh Okogie, there is no question that Gersson Rosas would love to add another adept wing defender with a moldable offensive game.
Matisse Thybulle is the Pac-12 Conference’s all-time leader in steals and was the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year in 2018-19. He dropped a ridiculous defensive stat line of 3.5 steals and 2.3 blocks per game this past season, and consistently found ways to disrupt defenses in a variety of ways in his four years at the University of Washington.
He stands just 6-foot-5 but utilizes a 7-foot, eagle-like wingspan to aggressively jump in the passing lanes, trap defenders when they pick up their dribble, and block shots as both a help and primary defender.
It should be noted that Thybulle played in former Syracuse Assistant Coach Mike Hopkins’ 2-3 zone defense at Washington and did not get the same exposure to playing man-to-man defense as some other defensive-centered prospects. However, given his wingspan, defensive IQ, and self-discipline in terms of refraining from fouling,
On the offensive side, Matisse was a career 35.8 percent 3-point shooter despite just shooting 30.5 percent from deep in 2018-19. He shot 85.1 percent from the charity stripe in 2018-19, which displays his potential to develop a consistent deep ball. Thybulle’s work ethic was never doubted during his college career, suggesting he would have no problem putting in the work to evolve as an offensive player.
The senior wing could make an immediate impact backing up Robert Covington as a productive 3-and-D player and bolster the Wolves’ stable of great wing defenders in Okogie and RoCo.