The Oklahoma City Thunder made a trade Wednesday.
According to Shams Charania of ESPN, OKC is receiving center Daniel Theis and a 2031 second-round pick from the New Orleans Pelicans. New Orleans traded as a way to duck under the luxury tax.
What OKC is shipping out in exchange for Theis has yet to be reported, but it is likely a heavily protected second-round pick or cash considerations.
Theis, an eighth-year man from Germany, has averaged 4.3 points and 4.3 rebounds in 38 games this season. Theis is a seasoned veteran who has spent time with six franchises in his career.
He is a 33% career 3-point shooter and averages more than an assist per game over his eight years.
If OKC’s track record tells us anything, it is that Theis is likely to be bought out. When rookie guard Ajay Mitchell returns from his toe injury, OKC’s history suggests he will be the one to fill the team’s final roster spot
If OKC were to keep Theis, he would slot into the spot occupied by Jaylin Williams as the third center when Chet Holmgren is back on the court.
If Sam Presti is one thing, it is opportunistic. When a pick is available, no matter how distant that pick may be, he is going to attempt to pounce on it.
It remains to be seen if OKC will make any moves of consequence ahead of Thursday’s 3 PM EST trade deadline, but acquiring a second-round pick for free isn’t anything to be sneezed at.
