Clippers Reportedly Interested in Acquiring Former Celtics Center

During the Los Angeles Clippers 111-97 loss to the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden Monday night, a game where James Harden made his team debut for LA, the visitors saw backup center Mason Plumlee sustain a significant knee injury.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reports the former Duke Blue Devil has a left knee MCL sprain. Fortunately, while Shams Charania of The Athletic added the expectation is that the ten-year veteran misses multiple months, the initial belief is it will not cost him the rest of the 2023-24 campaign.

But with Plumlee out of the rotation for an extended period, the Clippers will work to upgrade their depth at center behind starter Ivica Zubac. Per Charania, a player they're interested in acquiring is former Boston Celtics center Daniel Theis.

Sources: Clippers center Mason Plumlee is expected to be sidelined as much as two months with MCL sprain in knee — and one veteran center LA is showing interest in as team evaluates external move or standing pat. pic.twitter.com/JU9vecmlyE
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 9, 2023

After helping lead Germany to the gold medal at the FIBA Basketball World Cup over the summer, the six-year veteran is yet to appear in a game with the Indiana Pacers this season.

After a 155-104 blowout loss to the Celtics that Theis watched from the bench, he expressed to MassLive's Brian Robb, "I'm not happy with the situation I'm in right now," adding, "I want to play and take all the good stuff from the summer into the season, but it's a long season. We are going to see what's going on and what's happening."

With the six-foot-eight big man out of Indiana's rotation and making $9.1 million this season, with his contract carrying a $9.5 million team option over the summer, he'll likely find a new NBA home at some point in the current campaign.

While he doesn't rule out a return to Boston, a move he would welcome, the urgency Los Angeles has to fill the void caused by Plumlee's injury, plus the lack of assets they have left after trading multiple first-round picks for Harden, makes him a sensible target for the Clippers.

Further Reading

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Celtics Enamored with Threes That Don't Love Them Back in Loss vs. 76ers

Examining What Went Wrong for Celtics' Offense in Loss vs. Timberwolves

Jayson Tatum Discusses the Bond Between Him and the City He Stars In

From Self Doubt to Celtics History, Jayson Tatum Discusses Journey to 10,000 Points: 'I Didn't Think I Was Good Enough'

Jrue Holiday Discusses Celtics' Offense and Their Mindset: 'That's How Most People Like to Play Basketball'

Here's Where Jaylen Brown Impressed Joe Mazzulla the Most in Celtics' Win vs. Heat

Kristaps Porzingis Gives Glimpse of How He'll Boost Celtics Late-Game Offense

Under Joe Mazzulla, Celtics Rebuilding Brotherhood Between Past and Present

Candace Parker on Celtics Trading Marcus Smart, Maximizing Tatum-Brown Tandem, Pat Summitt, and the Sports Matter Initiative

Dwyane Wade Discusses Jayson Tatum's Next Step, Him and Jaylen Brown's Challenge, Heat Culture, Pat Riley, Damian Lillard, and Life After Basketball