Veteran center Daniel Theis has received interest in free agency from several suitors, including the Grizzlies, Pelicans, and Bucks, reports Kelly Iko of The Athletic (Twitter link).
Theis won the 2023 FIBA World Cup with Germany last year, then joined the Clippers in the fall after negotiating a buyout with the Pacers. He served as the backup center in Los Angeles while Mason Plumlee missed time due to an injury and averaged 6.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks in 17.1 minutes per game across 59 outings.
A second-apron team, Milwaukee is limited to offering minimum-salary contracts to outside free agents, while Memphis and New Orleans have financial constraints of their own to consider, so Theis is unlikely to secure a big payday from any of those suitors. Still, they could certainly offer him a path to playing time.
The Grizzlies traded away Steven Adams and Xavier Tillman last season, while New Orleans lost Jonas Valanciunas and Larry Nance Jr. this summer. Milwaukee has Brook Lopez manning the middle, but his name came up in trade rumors last month.
Here are a few more free agency notes from around the NBA:
- Although the Magic still have a chunk of cap room left over, they don’t appear to be aggressively pursuing outside free agents using that room. Jason Beede of The Orlando Sentinel (subscription required) hears that there continues to be mutual interest in new deals for free agents Moritz Wagner and Joe Ingles — if both players return, Orlando would have 15 players on standard contracts. A report on Monday suggested the team is also exploring using some cap room to renegotiate and extend Jonathan Isaac‘s contract.
- Caleb Martin doesn’t have a deal in place with a new team yet, but Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel (Twitter link) still views him as “all but gone” from the Heat. Re-signing Haywood Highsmith remains a possibility for Miami, per Winderman, who says the team may also sign another veteran free agent for the minimum. Winderman names Dennis Smith Jr. as a possible Heat target.
- Free agent wing Gary Trent Jr. appears likely to leave the Raptors, according to Eric Koreen of The Athletic. As Koreen details, Toronto’s agreement with Garrett Temple means there are already 15 players projected to be on guaranteed contracts if second-round picks Jonathan Mogbo and Jamal Shead are signed using the second-round exception, as expected. In other words, the team’s free agent business might be just about done.
- Kelly Iko of The Athletic hears that Trent had some interest in reuniting with former teammate Fred VanVleet in Houston, but the Rockets are another team who likely won’t do much more free agent shopping. Following the additions of Reed Sheppard and AJ Griffin, along with a new deal with Aaron Holiday, Houston projects to have 15 players under contract. While the Rockets would certainly still be interested in acquiring a young star, the two players they’ve been monitoring most closely, per Iko – Donovan Mitchell and Devin Booker – aren’t available, and the asking price for Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen was considered too high.
Theis actually would be a good fit in New Orleans
Ira winderman has been trying to add small guards for like 10+ years, so I don’t see that at all
I would actually be shocked if Highsmith is somehow resigned, and it would make losing Jamal Cain make a little more sense, though I’m still annoyed about that
I just dont see how he doesn’t get paid legitimately by someone, with not many options on the wing/at the 4 that can do what he does…I thought he could get 10-13 million AAV, probably closer to the higher number
That being said, money is drying up, and teams I would have thought would be interested did other things or were able to add other options, though there are still spots out there
Some of these dudes that thought they were getting a payday are going to have to settle for a minimum. The problems with the new second apron rules.
True, and some are only available/not being kept over the cap by their teams, even with bird rights, b/c of the new rules as well
Agree with both of you. Unfortunately the new cap rules are going to make the NBA a feast or famine league. The superstars will still get their money, but the pool of guys who received between $5M – $12M annually will now be signing minimum contracts.
With the new media rights deals, I would also think the cap will explode again at some point over these next few ysars
The nba said they aren’t doing a cap spike. Apparently they will be raising it slowly throughout the years.
Austin rivers spoke about this. How the NBA is getting rid of the middle class.
It’s definitely been a thing the last couple of CBAs, but ya, I kind of forgot about the new rules a little bit when actually heading into this offseason
Trent would be a good fit in Detroit.
Trent Jr, Kennard, Buddy Hield. All good three point shooters that are unsigned. Let’s see where they end up.
Just at a complete guess,
GTJ to Indy
Heild to Charlotte
Kennard to Brooklyn
GTJ would be a nice SG either alongside Hali or off the bench. He’s still young, he’s not just a floor spacer either he can handle the ball a little.
Buddy, I think he tries his best to follow the money but no one is offering it. Charlotte probably offer the most and he’d probably be a handy fit with LaMelo and Miller.
Lastly Kennard, I think Brooklyn swoop in and pick him up for cheap. They need to fill out the roster, but aren’t trying to compete and don’t have money to offer so it’s hard to lure in talent. But I think Kennard doesn’t have many suitors and takes the chance to be a starter or 6th man
Kennard is already in a starting/6th man position….lol do people on this site actually watch the nba