The New Orleans Pelicans are signing Daniel Theis to a one-year contract, a move that gives them badly needed depth at center.
Theis, 32, spent most of last season with the Los Angeles Clippers. He averaged 6.3 points and 4.1 rebounds in 59 games as a backup big in Los Angeles.
The German-born Theis broke into the NBA with the Boston Celtics in 2017. He spent 3½ seasons in Boston before being traded to the Chicago Bulls. Theis started 112 games for the Celtics.
Theis' signing means the Pelicans have 12 standard contracts on their books for next season. NBA teams are required to have a minimum of 14 standard contracts, which means the Pelicans aren't done making moves this summer.
New Orleans lost its top two leaders in minutes at center from last season earlier this offseason. Jonas Valanciunas was sent to the Washington Wizards in a sign-and-trade deal. Larry Nance Jr. was included in the trade package the Pelicans sent to the Atlanta Hawks to acquire Dejounte Murray.
The Pelicans now have three players capable of playing center under contract for next season: Theis; Yves Missi, whom New Orleans drafted with the 21st pick in the June draft; and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, who split time between power forward and center last season as a lightly used reserve.
The Pelicans are still expected to explore the market for a starting center. To acquire a starting-caliber center, they likely will need to make a trade. The Pelicans have gauged Brandon Ingram's trade market in the past few weeks. Ingram has one year remaining on his contract.
Theis is regarded as a hardworking big man who can hit the occasional outside shot. He has converted 33.1% of his 3s on 1.5 attempts per game in his career.