The Price for Theis - How do the Celtics hold onto Daniel Theis?


Backup center/power forward, Daniel Theis, has been a financial bargain for the Celtics for his rookie and sophomore seasons. He will earn roughly $1.4 million this season and will go into restricted free agency this summer. He has proven himself as a valued addition to the Celtics cause, and they would love to keep him around.


With all of the talent on the Boston roster, it may be easy to forget about Theis. He is not a high-volume scorer or major assist guy. But he is an excellent defender and rebounder who can also block some shots. For NBA players on the court for 12-or-more minutes per game, with at least 20 games-played this season, Daniel ranks second in Net Rating and third in Defensive Rating.

In the 116-95 win over the Nets last night, he scored 11 points in 19 minutes on 5-of-6 from the field, while hauling down eight boards, three of which were offensive. He can have trouble guarding the bruising centers of the League, but Theis does well as a small-ball five or at the power forward slot. And even though Daniel is not known for his passing ability, this Rob-Lob to Rob Williams was precise and perfectly timed to the Time Lord:


Danny Ainge recently picked up the option on Guerschon Yabusele's 2019-20 contract for $3.1 million. Theis will demand more than that. How much more is an unknown. The Celtics will most likely wait to see what offers from other teams may surface. The team certainly wants him back if a reasonable figure can be reached. But right now, the focus is on future wins and moving up from 5th place in the Eastern Conference. The right price for Theis can wait until this summer.


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Photo via Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images





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