The Los Angeles Lakers added a two-time All-Defensive Team wing on a bargain deal Monday, pulling the trigger on Matisse Thybulle after negotiations with restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga stalled. ESPN’s Shams Charania first reported the one-year, $3.3 million agreement, a low-cost flier on one of the league’s most disruptive perimeter defenders.
The move reshapes a Lakers roster already overhauled this offseason. Los Angeles traded for Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler, agreed to a max extension with Austin Reaves, and signed Collin Sexton, Quentin Grimes, and Sandro Mamukelashvili. Adding Thybulle at the minimum exception gives the Lakers a defensive specialist who led the NBA in steals per 36 minutes last season.
Why Thybulle Fits a Roster Built for Defense
Thybulle played just 30 games in 2025-26, averaging 5.8 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 2.0 steals in 16.0 minutes per game. The limited availability raises concerns, but the per-minute production does not lie. His 2.0 steals in 16 minutes translates to 4.5 steals per 36, a league-best rate among qualified players.
The 2021 and 2022 All-Defensive Second Team selections reflect a player whose active hands and instincts disrupt passing lanes in ways that do not show up in traditional box scores. Thybulle has career averages of 1.6 steals and 0.5 blocks per game across six NBA seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers, Portland Trail Blazers, Golden State Warriors, and Atlanta Hawks.
For a Lakers team that lost LeBron James to free agency this summer, defensive identity matters more than star power. The roster now features Kessler, an elite shot-blocker, and Sexton, a high-energy guard. For context on how the league is structured this season, readers can check the full list of NBA teams for the 2025-26 season. Thybulle gives the Lakers a wing stopper who can guard positions 1 through 3, a critical piece for a team that cannot out-talent opponents anymore.
Thybulle’s Defensive Impact
The analytics back the eye test. Thybulle ranked in the 96th percentile for defensive estimated plus-minus during his prime in Philadelphia. His 6-foot-5 wingspan and 6-foot-11 standing reach allow him to deflect passes that most guards cannot touch.
The question is health. Thybulle has not played more than 65 games in a season since 2021-22. Shoulder and ankle issues limited him to 30 appearances last season. At $3.3 million for one year, the Lakers are betting on a bounce-back season with no long-term risk. That modest salary places him well below the league’s highest-paid players, a contrast that highlights the value Los Angeles is seeking.
Kuminga’s Future Remains Uncertain
The Lakers pursued Kuminga since late June, according to The Athletic’s Dan Woike. The 23-year-old forward, selected seventh overall in the 2021 draft, remains unsigned as a restricted free agent.
“The Athletic has reported on the Lakers’ interest in free agent Jonathan Kuminga since late June, but it appears that momentum has stalled with the sides far apart on terms and L.A. not overly motivated to push significant draft capital into sign-and-trade scenarios,” Woike wrote.
Kuminga spent last season split between the Golden State Warriors and the Atlanta Hawks. After signing a new deal with the Warriors in 2025 free agency, he was traded to Atlanta before the 2026 deadline in a deal that sent Kristaps Porziņģis to Golden State. The change of scenery did not help him reach his potential. In 16 games with the Hawks, Kuminga averaged 12.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 23.1 minutes per game, shooting 46.3% from the field and 33.3% from three-point range.
Woike identified Cleveland as the team most frequently connected to Kuminga outside of Los Angeles. The Cavaliers have cap flexibility and a young core that could absorb Kuminga’s developmental timeline.
“The Lakers have shown interest in Kuminga since late June, but the sides remain far apart on contract terms,” Woike added. “He appears to be the biggest upside play left on the table and could re-emerge as a target if his market remains tepid.”
What Thybulle Signing Means for Laker Lineup
The Lakers now project a rotation of Austin Reaves, Collin Sexton, Quentin Grimes, Matisse Thybulle, Walker Kessler, Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Sandro Mamukelashvili. That group lacks a traditional star, a reality of the post-LeBron era. What it offers is length, switchability, and defensive versatility.
Thybulle and Kessler together create a potential top-10 defensive core. Reaves and Sexton provide scoring creation. The question is whether the offense can generate enough efficient looks without a primary creator. Reaves’ new $185 million max contract gives the Lakers their centerpiece guard, and how Thybulle complements him will determine the lineup’s balance.
The $3.3 million investment in Thybulle represents a fraction of what Kuminga would command. The Lakers clearly preferred Kuminga’s upside. When those talks stalled, they pivoted to proven defensive production at a fraction of the cost.
Thybulle as a Bargain Bet
A fully healthy Thybulle is worth multiples of $3.3 million. His All-Defensive seasons in 2021 and 2022 came while he was on his rookie contract with Philadelphia. Since then, injuries and inconsistent roles have suppressed his market value.
The one-year structure benefits both sides. Thybulle rebuilds his value in a featured defensive role. The Lakers get a proven commodity with zero commitment beyond this season. If he stays healthy, he becomes a trade asset or a re-signing candidate. If not, the cap hit is negligible.
For a team in its first season without LeBron James since 2018, the margin for error is narrow. The Lakers cannot afford bad contracts. Thybulle, at $3.3 million, carries no risk and measurable upside.
The Verdict
The Thybulle signing signals a pragmatic shift in the Lakers’ front-office philosophy. After years of star-chasing, the 2026-27 Lakers now build around defense, depth, and financial flexibility, not LeBron, Anthony Davis, and Russell Westbrook. Thybulle fits that model.
The Kuminga situation remains fluid. Cleveland looms as a competitor. The Lakers hold limited draft capital to push into a sign-and-trade. If Kuminga’s market continues to cool, a reunion remains possible. For now, Los Angeles secured a two-time All-Defensive Team selection, a different kind of upside, but a real one.
How the Thybulle addition meshes with Austin Reaves’ new max contract and the Kessler trade will determine whether the newly retooled roster surprises expectations or falls into the lottery. The answer starts in October.
