Pelicans sign veteran C Daniel Theis as roster shakeup continues
The New Orleans Pelicans' roster shakeup continues, and this time with a veteran signing to bolster the center position.
The Pelicans have agreed to terms with big man Daniel Theis, according to a report from ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. The move comes after a blockbuster trade that netted the Pelicans PG Dejounte Murray from the Hawks for a variety of players and picked that included Larry Nance Jr. and Cody Zeller.
The Pelicans are also not expected to bring back center Jonas Valanciunas, making a veteran center addition a high priority heading into the 2024-'25 season. New Orleans also added Baylor center Yves Missi in last month's draft, but he projects as a developmental player and will likely be used sparingly early on in his career. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl could also log minutes at center in small-ball lineups.
In Theis, 32, the Pelicans are adding a well-traveled player who got his start internationally and won a pair of championships and was a four-time All-Star in Germany before signing with the Boston Celtics ahead of the 2016-'17 season. Theis was an effective defender and rebounder, with his offensive game developing over the course of 4 seasons. His most productive year came in the 2019-'20 season when he averaged 9.2 points, 6.6 rebounds and more than a block per game, logging a career-high 64 starts.
Theis was traded to the Chicago Bulls in the 2020-'21 season and has also spent time with the Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers and L.A. Clippers, where he appeared in 59 games and averaged 6.3 points and 4.1 rebounds last season.
Theis will next be on the court this summer when he represents his native Germany in the 2024 Olympics, a bracket that will also feature his Pelicans teammate Jose Alvarado representing Puerto Rico.
The addition of Theis puts the Pelicans at 12 standard contracts, indicating there are additional moves yet to come. There has been significant buzz around a potential trade package involving Brandon Ingram, who is heading into the final year of his current contract and eligible to sign a 4-year, $208 million max extension.

















