Daniel Theis, Celtics Reportedly Agree to New 2-Year, $10M Contract

The Boston Celtics are bringing back Daniel Theis.

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Celtics are re-signing the restricted free agent to a two-year, $10 million deal.

ESPN's Bobby Marks broke down the cap implications of the signing: "Theis will be signed with the early bird exception, allowing Boston to exceed the cap to sign him. The forward will sign (via a sign-and-trade) once cap space to sign Kemba Walker is extinguished."

The 6'8" Theis averaged 5.7 points, 3.4 rebounds and an assist in 13.8 minutes per game during the 2018-19 season, appearing in 66 contests (two starts). But with Al Horford headed to Philadelphia, Aron Baynes traded to the Phoenix Suns and Marcus Morris likely to sign elsewhere in free agency, Theis' path to playing time in the frontcourt has become clearer.

In Boston, the 27-year-old will compete with Enes Kanter, Vincent Poirier (who reportedly signed with the Celtics on Tuesday), Robert Williams and Guerschon Yabusele for playing time. It's also possible head coach Brad Stevens will choose to play small with Gordon Hayward or Jayson Tatum at the 4.

Kanter will likely start at center, but the team will have options behind him. Poirier will offer more defense than Kanter, while Williams is inexperienced but has major potential.

One major factor in Theis' favor is that he can stretch the floor, shooting 38.8 percent from three last season. That gives him utility as a stretch big.

His signing won't move the needle like some of the other moves the Celtics have made this summer—like bringing Kemba Walker into the fold and moving on from Kyrie Irving, Terry Rozier, Horford, Baynes and Morris—but he'll be an important part of the new-look Celtics rotation.