Players the Chicago Bulls would be foolish not to bring back for 21-22: Daniel Theis
Someone who Karnisovas and the Bulls landed at the trade deadline that was a fan favorite right away was the former Celtics center Daniel Theis. This 6-foot-8 and 245 pound German 29-year-old big man was very solid for Donovan and the Bulls down the stretch last season. The Bulls also could start to round out their frontcourt rotation for the next couple of years by handing Theis a new contract for at least two years this summer.
Theis should have at least a few years of high-level production either in a second unit role off of the bench, or in a starting unit in a hybrid power forward/center role. And if the Bulls could get him on a contract this offseason that would pay him around $6-$8 million per year, then it should be a slam dunk for this front office to pull the trigger and re-sign Theis.
Looking like a really solid fit next to the likes of Vooch and Williams down the stretch last season, Theis could continue to help improve the team chemistry heading into next season. He was very versatile and valuable for Donovan in this frontcourt rotation, especially when injuries were piling up.
He averaged 10.0 points per game (a career-high with any one team), 5.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.7 steals, and 0.6 blocks, in 23 games played with the Bulls post-deadline in the season that was. And he shot 52.2 percent from the field, a supbar 28.1 percent from beyond the arc, and 65.1 percent from the free-throw line with the Bulls during the regular season.
Among the three Bulls players on this list that Karnisovas and Eversley could bring back this summer, Theis might be the one that the fans want back the most. He’s already a fan favorite and brings a ton of value to this frontcourt rotation.