After clearing waivers on Friday, free agent center Daniel Theis has officially signed with the Clippers, the team announced (via Twitter).
According to Andrew Greif of The Los Angeles Times (Twitter link), Theis is expected to be available for Friday’s contest against Houston.
The move was expected. Theis reached a buyout agreement with the Pacers on Wednesday and was subsequently waived. The Clippers can only offer the prorated veteran’s minimum — worth about $2.2MM in Theis’ case — which is reportedly how much he gave up in his buyout.
Theis, 31, is a 6’8″ German big man who has spent most of his seven-year NBA career with Boston, but he has also played for Chicago, Houston and Indiana. He holds career averages of 7.5 PPG, 4.9 RPG and 0.9 BPG on .542/.325/.714 shooting in 314 games (148 starts, 19.4 MPG).
Theis was limited to just seven NBA appearances last season due to a knee injury, but had a strong summer in international competition. He started at center for the German national team that captured gold at the 2023 World Cup, averaging 10.9 PPG, 5.4 RPG and 1.9 APG in 21.8 MPG in the club’s eight FIBA contests.
Theis had hoped to carry over that success into the 2023/24 NBA season, but the Pacers have a crowded frontcourt behind starting center Myles Turner. Isaiah Jackson and Jalen Smith were both ahead of Theis on the depth chart through the first three weeks of the season.
As a result, Theis was limited to just one cameo appearance this season and admitted earlier this month that was “not happy” about his nonexistent role in Indiana.
The Clippers were looking for frontcourt depth after trading multiple power forwards in the James Harden trade and then losing backup center Mason Plumlee to a sprained MCL in his left knee. Plumlee is expected to miss multiple months.
The Clippers now have a full 18-man roster after signing Theis.
Clippers won their first two games with Theis playing. Went 8-10, scored 19 points in 21 minutes in 2nd game. Three offensive boards. Go Daniel Theis!