Pelicans Trade Daniel Theis, Draft Compensation to Thunder

Ryan Phillips | Feb 5, 2025

Daniel Theis is averaging 4.3 points and 4.3 rebounds during the 2024-25 season. / Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

The Oklahoma City Thunder made a trade on Wednesday and, unsurprisingly, landed a draft pick in it.

ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania is reporting the New Orleans Pelicans are sending center Daniel Theis and draft compensation—a 2031 second-round pick—to the Thunder.

It's a 2031 2nd round pick going to OKC in this deal. Pels already owe a 2nd round pick swap to Orlando in 2031. So, least favorable of those two picks will go to OKC, per source. https://t.co/cODYZMBNDA

— Will Guillory (@WillGuillory) February 5, 2025

This may seem odd, but the real reason New Orleans is unloading Theis while giving away a draft pick is purely a financial move. The Pelicans were $1.4 million above the luxury tax threshold before the deal and are now below it after unloading Theis's $2.1 million salary. Theis signed a one-year deal with New Orleans this offseason.

New Orleans was $1.4M above the luxury tax prior to the trade.

They are now below.

Theis is on an expiring $2.1M contract. https://t.co/x4vC2aUytm

— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) February 5, 2025

In 38 games this season, Theis is averaging 4.3 points and 4.3 rebounds in 16.3 minutes per contest. He's a pure bench option for the Thunder, who currently have the NBA's best record at 39-9.

The Pelicans are in the midst of another lost season as they sit 12-38 with the second-worst record in the Western Conference. They lost guard Dejounte Murray to a torn Achilles tendon on Friday which was just the latest in a long line of bad injury luck.

It makes sense for them to get their financial house in order before the deadline.

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