The New Orleans Pelicans have a major wrinkle in their roster-building efforts this offseason as they struggle to find a willing team to take on Brandon Ingram. While the forward is a quality offensive option whenever he’s on the floor, his injury history and questionable defense make him a liability for any team interested in making a move on him.
However, the team also understands there’s more to building a strong team than simply relying on getting a big-time trade for a valuable asset.
The team is constantly looking for high-quality players who can help the team performer better in game-time situations, and they reportedly landed a solid big man who can shore up the team’s shortcomings on the frontcourt.
REPORT: New Orleans Pelicans sign Daniel Theis to boost their frontcourt
According to Sports Al Dente’s Brian Anderson, the Pelicans acquired Theis to provide some much-needed boost to the team’s defensive efficiency in the frontcourt:
The New Orleans Pelicans have reached an agreement with NBA veteran Daniel Theis on a one-year contract, according to a source familiar with the deal. The agreement, which has not yet been officially announced, was disclosed to The Associated Press on Monday under the condition of anonymity.
The Pelicans’ move to acquire Theis, who is 32 years old, comes after trading away their top two centers from last season, Jonas Valanciunas and Larry Nance Jr. Valanciunas was traded to Washington, while Nance was part of a deal with Atlanta that brought point guard Dejounte Murray to New Orleans.
Theis is a respected big man who has played for multiple teams throughout the league. Through 373 career games, he averaged 7.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 0.9 blocks on 19.1 minutes.
While the former Boston Celtic is a brilliant signing, it still doesn’t address their dilemma with Ingram. They still need to do away with the forward as he’s a horrible fit on the squad. However, making moves on the free agency market is never a bad shout for a team that’s struggling to make drastic changes to their roster.
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