3 reasons the Milwaukee Bucks should avoid trading for Daniel Theis
Why the Milwaukee Bucks should avoid trading for Daniel Theis: His performance
Lastly, Daniel Theis would not provide much help to the Milwaukee Bucks because Theis is currently performing at his career-low in several important metrics. Theis currently has a PER (player efficiency rating) of 11.0, box +/- of -2.3 meaning he is performing below average on offense per 100 possessions and a defensive box +/- of -1.1 meaning he is also performing below average on defense per 100 possessions. Statistics courtesy of basketball-reference.com.
Theis is also averaging a career-low in true shooting percentage which is a metric that factors in the efficiency of free throws, which Theis shoots poorly at a clip of 67.5 percent, 2-point shots, which Theis is currently making 61 percent of, his lowest since his second year in the league, and 3-point shots, which Theis makes only 29.1 percent of the time, combining for a career-low 55.4 percent true shooting percentage. For a center, that is incredibly subpar.
These statistics combined are enough to warrant wanting to stay away from Theis, but it is also worth noting that he is not a crazy effective rebounder either. Theis averages just five rebounds per game despite playing an average of 22.5 minutes per contest. That is not particularly stellar for a center, to say the least.
In conclusion, it doesn’t seem like bringing in Theis would benefit the Bucks much outside of giving Bobby Portis some rest during the regular season, which doesn’t sound worth nine million dollars per season for the next three years. I believe there are better, cheaper options for the Bucks to pursue in trade talks, players like Nerlens Noel or Mitchell Robinson who the Bucks just saw last night, Mike Muscala from the Oklahoma City Thunder, or even Gorgui Dieng who rides the bench for the Atlanta Hawks.
The Bucks would be wise to tack on some size before the deadline passes, but Theis should not be someone they pursue heavily. Perhaps they were just kicking the tires, but only time will truly tell what general manager Jon Horst and the defending champions have in store before the deadline.
Next. Pass or pursue on Milwaukee Bucks’ rumored 2022 trade deadline targets. dark
Keep an eye on the Bucks as they reportedly scour the trade market for a center in the next few weeks before February 10.