Free agency rumors: Defensive ace to sign offer sheet with the Dallas Mavericks

Restricted free agency begins on Thursday, and it looks like the Mavericks could be landing one of the best defensive players in the NBA.

According to Chris B Haynes of Bleacher Report, "Matisse Thybulle intends to sign an offer sheet with the Dallas Mavericks." Thybulle is a restricted free agent, and Portland would have 24 hours to match Dallas' offer.

Thybulle averaged 7.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.7 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game in the 22 games he played for Portland last season (he was traded there from Philadelphia at the trade deadline).

Thybulle is one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA, and adding his defensive presence in Dallas would be huge. The Mavericks haven't had a player make an All-Defensive Team since 2011 with Tyson Chandler, and Thybulle has already been elected to an All-Defensive Team twice in his four-year career.

He is as versatile as they come on defense, but his offensive game is subpar. Thybulle's only scoring value is his catch-and-shoot three, which improved during his time in Portland. He shot 38.8 percent from three while in Portland, and was playing more minutes than he ever has in his career.

Dallas doesn't need him to do much on offense as they have two of the best scorers in the league in Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, so his offensive game shouldn't hinder the Mavs too much. He could just stand outside and shoot threes on offense, and play lockdown defense on the other end of the floor.

If Dallas can land Thybulle, he would be their defensive ace. He blocks jumpers, flies through passing lanes, deflects passes, and stays in front of his man. He is only 6-foot-5, but he has a 7-foot wingspan. Thybulle is also only 26 years old, and the Mavericks would have him in his prime.

The Mavs have had interest in Thybulle for a while now, and they could finally land him, depending on if Portland wants to match Dallas' offer or not.

We'll have you covered with all the latest free agency news and rumors surrounding the Mavs, so stay tuned.