Chicago Bulls: Why re-signing Daniel Theis must be an offseason priority
Why the Chicago Bulls must re-sign Daniel Theis: He provides interior toughness
Nikola Vučević is one of the most talented centers in the NBA. However, when it comes to boxing out, setting hard screens, gaining position in the paint and securing tough rebounds, his is not the first name that comes to mind. The Chicago Bulls sent a tough physical young player by the name of Wendell Carter to the Orlando Magic in order to obtain Vučević. While the two-time All-Star is certainly an upgrade, the deal cost the team part of their interior presence.
More from Chicago Bulls
- NBA Rumors: Chicago pursuing the best remaining free agent
- 3 Ways the Chicago Bulls can utilize their disabled player exception
- 3 Teams that dodged a bullet with Russell Westbrook news
- NBA Rumors: Could Goran Dragic’s days be numbered on the Chicago Bulls?
- Revisiting 5 recent terrible trades ahead of the deadline
Enter Daniel Theis. On a team where the tallest player on the roster is Lauri Markkanen, who spends a good deal of time on the perimeter, Daniel Theis is a throwback big man. He spends the majority of his time in the paint, and he won’t hesitate to set a hard screen or take a charge. In a league where more 3-pointers are being attempted than ever, there are more long rebounds and as a result, fewer grit-and-grind interior players. Theis is a guy who will throw an elbow in the paint or chase down a long missed 3-point attempt. It’s all the same to him.
The Eastern Conference is full of physical big men. Guys like Dwight Howard of the Philadelphia 76ers or DeAndre Jordan of the Brooklyn Nets will have a field day catching lobs if there’s not a body willing to put pressure on them to stay grounded. For the Chicago Bulls, Daniel Theis is the guy who’ll put it all on the line to impede the progress of men like this.