The Los Angeles Lakers are committing to the future at the 2025 NBA trade deadline. It's an admittedly risky move when one considers the fact that Los Angeles is 10 games above .500 and on pace to make the playoffs without needing to go through the Play-In Tournament.
One of the primary hurdles remaining in the Lakers' way of sustaining their success is finding an ideal answer at center—a process as challenging as ever before.
Los Angeles made a move that shouldn't at all prevent it from continuing to play at a postseason-caliber level in 2024-25 when it swapped Anthony Davis for Luka Doncic. Doncic has quite the track record of leading teams deep into the playoffs, but losing Davis meant leaving a painfully thin rotation of centers in his wake.
According to Shams Charania of ESPN, the Lakers have missed out on one of the best available options at center, as the New Orleans Pelicans have sent Daniel Theis to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The New Orleans Pelicans are trading center Daniel Theis and draft compensation to the Oklahoma City Thunder, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/Ey3XKVHv48
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 5, 2025
Theis may not be quite the player that he was during his prime years with the Boston Celtics, but the Lakers need depth and Theis represented an affordable option in that regard.
Daniel Theis sent to Thunder, leaving Lakers with one less trade option
Los Angeles seemingly had a healthy list of options on the trade front, but the list is dwindling. Jonas Valanciunas was believed to be the Lakers' top target when Davis was still on the roster, but he's since been acquired by the Sacramento Kings.
Theis, 32, could've assisted in that regard, providing quality defensive instincts and postseason experience along an otherwise inexperienced interior.
Los Angeles' current options at center are Jaxson Hayes, Trey Jemison III, and Christian Koloko. Jemison and Koloko are signed to two-way contracts, while Hayes is an unproven commodity in the second season of a deal that's paying him at a minimum rate.
Theis, meanwhile, is an eight-year veteran with 41 games of postseason experience and a deep playoff run with the Celtics.
Theis is currently averaging 4.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.2 offensive boards, and 1.6 assists in just 16.3 minutes per game. Those numbers may not blow anyone away, but they represent his well-rounded contributions on both ends of the floor.
Theis' averages also translate to 9.4 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2.6 offensive boards, 3.5 assists, 1.2 blocks, and 1.0 steal per 36 minutes—far more impressive numbers from that perspective.
It's also worth noting that opponents are shooting 3.7 percent worse from within six feet of the rim when Theis is the primary defender. That's a solid representation of the value he can provide as an experienced interior presence.
Unfortunately, Theis will now join a different contender and leave the Lakers with one fewer option on the trade front.