Sixers Reportedly Trade Up To Select Washington Guard Matisse Thybulle With 20th Pick In NBA Draft
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (CBS) -- The Sixers traded up five spots to snag Washington guard Matisse Thybulle in the first round of Thursday's NBA draft. The team reportedly sent picks Nos. 24 and 33 to the Boston Celtics for the 20th pick.
Thybulle (6-foot-5, 195) averaged 9.1 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists during his senior year. He also chipped in 2.3 blocks and 3.5 steals per game. The senior guard was named the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year for 2019.
He's a career 42.9% shooter and finished his four-year career a 35.8% shooter from three.
Thybulle is a former teammate of Markelle Fultz, who the Sixers took No. 1 overall in 2017. The two played together during the 2016-17 season at Washington.
After being drafted, Thybulle credited his mother, who passed away from cancer when he was in high school, and the impact she made on his life.
"I wish she was here to see it. She never let anything stop her from doing what she wanted to do. You saw that from when she became a doctor and it was just a trend throughout her whole life. So I just try to be like that as much as I can," Thybulle said.
This is general manager Elton Brand's first draft at the helm of the Sixers. Brand later traded Jonathon Simmons and the team's 42nd pick to the Wizards for cash considerations.
Simmons came to the Sixers as part of the return from the Orlando Magic for Fultz. He averaged 5.5 points in 15 games with the Sixers in 2019.
The Sixers then traded the 34th pick to the Hawks for two future second round picks and No. 57.
The team also holds two second round picks -- Nos. 34 and 54. Stay tuned.
CBS3 reporter Cleve Bryan contributed to this report.
