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Daniel Theis and Nikola Vucevic will defend Dillon Brooks in a game against the Memphis Grizzlies on April 16.
Among all of the Chicago Bulls’ end-of-trade acquisitions, and there have been many, it is possible that Daniel Theis was the most surprising arrival.
This isn’t a dispute with two-time all-star Nikola Vucevic, but taking all factors into account the fourth-year veteran was withdrawn from the Boston Celtics for next to nothing.
Chicago sent and brought Chandler Hutchison, Daniel Gafford and Luke Kornet in a three-team deal that included the Washington Wizards Troy Brown Jr. and Theis back.
Before the Chicago Bulls matchup with the Boston Celtics, Daniel Theis spoke to reporters (via NBC Sports) about the events leading up to his landing in Windy City.
He sounded optimistic about his return to TD Garden and playing his old team:
Definitely a strange feeling to be the visiting team coming to the (TD) Garden, but definitely a special day too. I’ve played a lot of games here, spent almost four years here, so I’ll just enjoy it tonight.
Theis told reporters that the Chicago deal surprised him, but he has no bad will towards the Celtics players or the front office. He still speaks to Semi Ojeleye almost every day:
The Bulls are just Theis’ second NBA home, so it probably has a bigger impact on the big man as he was moved for the first time in his career. And it surprised the entire NBA, not just him.
He averaged 8.9 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.2 blocks as a starter in the 17-game postseason in which they made the Eastern finals Conference.
Before the Chicago Bulls beat the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday night, head coach Billy Donovan spoke to reporters (via NBC Sports) about Daniel Theis and his upcoming freelance agency.
And he offered that the team hoped their chances of resigning him this off-season:
We may not have gotten into this depth of conversation (before we acted for him) but I would say in our conversations there is no question that me and Artūras and (General Manager) Marc (Eversley) really like him (Theis) player. So I would think that our hope would be a long-term possibility.
When Theis forwarded his head coach’s comments on Monday, he did not address his upcoming free agency.
It is of course nice to hear that Coach ( Donovan) speaks good about me. Like I said, I’m just trying to be a veteran on this team and help the young people. And listen, I’ve been into basketball for a long time and I think I bring some physical shape to the team, especially on the defensive, and I want to bring it with me every night.
And that’s exactly why they want him way above that in a bull uniform for the remaining 16 games of the season.
Ref: https://heavy.com