4 Non-star trade targets that could help the Sacramento Kings 

2. Matisse Thybulle

The Kings’ weakest spot is their wing defense. Keegan Murray has come a long way since last season, but he cannot guard everyone. Teams like the New Orleans Pelicans, for example, with tons of long wings as well as talented guards give the Kings trouble. 

Matisse Thybulle could really help with that. He is long, defends without fouling, averages the fifth-most steals in the league with 1.6 per game, and is rather versatile. His four most-seen matchups this season are Devin Booker, Luka Doncic, Collin Sexton, and Paul George. 

Offensively, Thybulle doesn’t produce much, but he is shooting 38 percent from three this season. The Kings don’t need another player who wants to have the ball in his hands all the time. Fox, Murray, Sabonis, and Monk all already need a good amount of touches. 

What they need around those four is someone who can defend at a high level and hit enough three-pointers to draw defenders out. Thybulle could be exactly that, and at age 26, he fits the Kings’ timeline well.

Plus, the Trail Blazers are rebuilding and would probably welcome some draft capital or a player like Davion Mitchell they can still develop. Thybulle is only one year older than Mitchell but has about twice as much NBA experience, playing already in his sixth season. At this point, we know pretty well what kind of player he is and what he can contribute. 

He will not come with the same growing pains for the Kings as Mitchell. The latter meanwhile still has unexplored potential Portland could gamble on.