Daniel Theis, a former center for the Boston Celtics, is the target of trade interest early in the season because he isn’t content with his meager playing position with the Indiana Pacers.
Through a deal in 2022 that made Malcolm Brogdon available to the Celtics, Theis, 31, ended up in Indiana. After that, things didn’t get better for the seasoned big man, who was mostly used for defensive possession in Boston.
“Obviously after a great summer, I’m not happy with the situation I’m in right now,” Theis told Brian Robb of MassLive before Indiana’s recent matchup in Boston. “I want to play and take all the good stuff from the summer into the season but it’s a long season. We are going to see what’s going on and what’s happening.”
Before the start of the season, Theis played a critical role in representing Team Germany during its successful 2023 FIBA run, which also included a notable jaw-dropping win over Team USA.
When facing that United States team, Theis scored 21 points on 10-of-15 shooting with seven rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block. That came off a season in which Theis played just seven games during his debut campaign with the Pacers and averaged seven points with 3.1 rebounds.
Perhaps that’ll signal the end of Theis in Indiana.
Theis is in the final year of his contract with the Pacers, set to earn $9.1 million before becoming an unrestricted free agent. Indiana does have a $9.5 million club option for 2024-25, which the organization will presumably decline in order to provide minutes for younger rim-protecting options such as Jalen Smith and Myles Turner.
One possibility Theis hasn’t ruled out, with that being said, is a possible third run with the Celtics. The Pacers could buy out Theis in order to finally set him free to sign elsewhere.
I now know better than to ever say never. According to Robb, Theis stated, “Obviously, I’m open (to going back to Boston for a third time).” “What matters most is that I want to play and be a part of the team.”
