In a move that should be no surprise to anyone, the Sixers have elected to pick up the team options on Tyrese Maxey and Matisse Thybulle for the 2022-23 season.
Both young players have proved to make an immediate impact since coming into the league and have been a great fit for the organization with their youthful and positive personalities. These team options are still a part of each player’s rookie deal, and each player is likely to outperform the contract making this great value for the franchise.
Tyrese Maxey
The Sixers have been ecstatic about the addition of Tyrese Maxey since he fell to them at the 21st pick in last year’s draft. The 6’2 guard has flashed an elite burst, impressive finishing ability, and an unmatched work ethic during his short time with the team. Maxey has proved the beneficiary of the Ben Simmons situation and has started all five games so far this year, where he has averaged 14.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.6 assists during his 33 minutes played per game.
The value of the deal is based on draft position and will result in Maxey making $2.73 million next season. The Sixers have very high hopes for Maxey’s role moving forward, and he will likely be primed for a major payday down the line. In the meantime, the Sixers will have another team option to make for the 2023-24 season, which is also almost certain to be picked up.
Matisse Thybulle
After spending four years at the University of Washington, the Sixers acquired the draft rights of Matisse Thybulle after the Boston Celtics selected him with the 20th pick in the 2019 draft. Since joining the Sixers, Thybulle has established himself as one of the NBA’s premier defenders.
His 6’11 wingspan has helped him tally the sixth most steals in the NBA since debuting in 2019, even in the limited minutes. Thybulle was the only player in the NBA last season to have at least 100 steals and 70 blocks in less than 1300 minutes of play.
The 6’5 wing will be on the books for $4.34 million next season due to the team option. Following next season, the Sixers will be given the opportunity to extend a qualifying offer to Thybulle, which would make him a restricted free agent. This ensures the Sixers will have a chance to match any offer sent his way and ensures the best chance of keeping him around if they continue to believe he is a part of the long-term plans.
Overall these are extremely exciting moves from the Sixers’ perspective. In addition to the promise they have shown on the court, Maxey and Thybulle have each been embraced by the city. Their funloving personalities and have quickly become fan-favorites.
The use of these team options is an excellent way to hold on to young players on team-friendly deals. Each of these players is likely primed for a higher price-tag deal down the line. The Sixers, however, can continue to evaluate each player at a cheap cost for next season and make that decision down the road.
