Sure, just give up Matisse Thybulle

    The trade deadline produced a number of trades that switched up the league as we know. Notably, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant both ditched the Nets without much of an ending. The team that looked like would be a monstrous dynasty was actually a sort of failure. James Harden wisely ditched his team before it got serious and as we know, came to Philly. Durant and Irving had been wanting out for a while, and Durant headed to Phoenix, while Irving headed to Dallas. Russel Westbrook also left Los Angeles for Utah. Another major change didn't involve any big name players, but did involve Philly's defensive guru: Matisse Thybulle. (Twitter post from NBA TV)

    Thybulle has been on the hotseat for a while, ever since the Sixers signed P.J. Tucker. Thybulle's former inability offensively also didn't help his case. However, he was becoming much more aggressive behind the arc and in the paint, not to mention his already-established defensive expertise. It didn't matter, as Thybulle is heading to Portland and the 76ers have received forward Jalen McDaniels. 

Matisse Thybulle was definitely getting better offensively before he was traded

Photo Credit: Yahoo Sports
 

    The Sixers are definitely going to miss Thybulle. McDaniels is a great player, but I'm not sure that giving Thybulle up was the greatest idea. I have griped about P.J. Tucker many times, and I won't stop. He isn't someone who really pushes the team forward, at least anymore than the rest of the team does. The teams could do very well without him. Danuel House also hasn't had a great year this year, and isn't much of a player to invest in. Furkan Korkmaz requested a trade and doesn't look like he still wants to be in Philly. These players would have been much better to trade, not players that actually help the team. In other words, if the player doesn't really add something to the team, than they aren't really useful to the 76ers goal: the NBA finals. 

    The breaking up of the Nets team however by trading Irving and Durant means good news to Philly. One less team to actually struggle against in the Eastern Conference.

The above photo was taken from a Yahoo Sports article. Photo taken by (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson). Article written by Chris Haynes. Image used for commentary.