When the Chicago Bulls acquired Daniel Theis in the final minutes before the NBA trade deadline many people were impressed. It was a great trade from a value standpoint and only came to fruition because of the Boston Celtics financial preferences.
The Celtics desired to save money and the Bulls used that to their advantage. When the deal was made, it was easy to assume Theis may be a short-term option for the Bulls due to his upcoming free agency.
That would make sense as the Bulls didn’t unload anything they valued in terms of assets or contributors. Theis would make the team better this year and the team would have financial freedom when the offseason rolled around.
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Recent statements from Bulls head coach Billy Donovan suggest Theis may be around for more than just the remaining season, though. It’s easy to see why after seeing the early impact he has had on this Bulls team.
While the group is struggling post trade deadline, Theis has consistently been a bright spot on an otherwise frustrating team. His role has already become so much more than just as the primary backup center to Nikola Vucevic.
When Theis was brought in, that was a concern. Would Donovan be willing to play the two alongside each other? It may be somewhat unconventional and would naturally eat into the minutes received by Thaddeus Young and Lauri Markkanen. We have now learned Donovan is more than willing to play them alongside each other.
Theis Fits Next to Chicago Bulls Franchise Players
Donovan is willing to start them next to each other. That move brings something to the starting front court that is lacking with the current Bulls team. A new level of energy, toughness and grit that the Bulls don’t have much of on their entire roster.
For that reason, Theis would be a welcome addition to the long-term outlook of this Bulls team. If he joins players like Vucevic and LaVine in having a long-term commitment from the organization it would be a positive development.
Those two need complimentary players that fit well alongside them like any other all-star pairing in the NBA. Theis is the exact kind of complementary player that slots in great next to the two cornerstones.
He does not need the ball and won’t have plays run for him. Still, he’ll be involved in the game and have his fingerprints all over it because of the energy and knowledge he plays with. He can shoot from the outside and finish at the rim. More importantly, he helps the Bulls at the rim, an area where Vooch isn’t exactly a difference-maker.
Theis is due to earn a solid raise in the offseason and he has earned one. As he keeps showing the Chicago Bulls front office and coaching staff how well he fits with the team’s plans moving forward it becomes more and more likely the franchise will make him a priority this offseason.