Indiana Pacers center Daniel Theis not happy with his role
Indiana Pacers center Daniel Theis has not played a single minute this season, and the veteran big man told Brian Robb of MassLive he is not happy with his state of affairs right now.
"Obviously after a great summer, I'm not happy with the situation I'm in right now," Theis said in an exclusive interview with MassLive. The big man is healthy and was in good spirits at Pacers media day. He was looking forward to the season after an unforgettable experience with the German national team in the summer. They won the FIBA World Cup.
"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," Theis said to MassLive. He acknowledged that it's a coach's decision.
Theis was dealt to the Pacers in the summer of 2022. His salary was an important part of a trade that sent Malcolm Brogdon to the Boston Celtics and Theis, along with Aaron Nesmith plus draft compensation, to the Pacers. The German had a busy 2022 offseason between a trip to the NBA Finals with Boston, World Cup qualifiers, EuroBasket with Germany, and being traded.
That led to some knee issues, and Theis needed surgery on his right knee. He didn't debut for the Pacers until February 2 of 2023.
The 31-year old would go on to play in seven games for the blue and gold before being sent to the bench as young players received more playing time. His final outing of the campaign was on February 23.
That was the smart choice for the Pacers, who are thinking long term with their roster decisions. But it was tough for Theis, who was healthy and wanted to play. He discussed his reality at his exit interview after last season. "Obviously, I wanted to play more. Like I said, I'm a competitor... for me, I proved I'm healthy," the seven-year vet said of his 2022-23 season.
Rick Carlisle, the Pacers head coach, was asked on Friday about Theis' recent comments. "I don't blame him, he shouldn't be happy with it," Carlisle said. "I don't want guys on the team that are happy not playing."
Theis entered training camp in a battle for the backup center spot with Jalen Smith and Isaiah Jackson. The German big man started one of the Pacers preseason games but didn't play much in the exhibitions. He averaged two points and five rebounds per game during the preseason.
Ultimately, Smith earned the backup five minutes with excellent play. That put Theis on the bench, and Jackson has been the third big so far. On a deep team, that has left no opportunities for Theis.
"He's a pro. He came in yesterday, he was in the gym an hour and a half. I've got no problems with Theis," Carlisle said. "Things have fallen the way they've fallen," the head coach added, noting that Theis needs to be ready to play in case he is needed.
The 31-year old center is in the third season of a four-year contract. His deal has a team option next season worth $9.5 million, so he could be a free agent next summer. Because his contract may be an expiring deal, Theis' future with the Pacers could be decided by the February 2024 trade deadline. Until then, he will have to be ready to play in case he is needed, but he is on the outside looking in when it comes to minutes.
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