Nets Rumors: This arch-rival could come to Brooklyn via trade

If Sean Marks and the Brooklyn Nets want to peruse the trade market in the hopes of adding more rebounding and interior defense to the mix, they might need to swallow their pride and once again do business with Danny Ainge’s Boston Celtics. If they play their cards right, center Daniel Theis could come to Brooklyn.

Theis has evolved from a backup big known for his defense into a starter over the last two years in Boston. This season, the big man is averaging 9.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game. Despite solid box score numbers, the Celtics are often better on the offensive end when he is out of the game.

Tristian Thompson remains a rock-solid starting center in this league given his post play, and standout youngster Robert Williams is shooting over 70% from the field. If Boston wants to give the youthful Williams more time, Theis’ minutes could get eaten into.

If Theis finds his playing time reduced, the Nets should offer him a lifeline in Brooklyn, where he’d immediately find a role.

Daniel Theis is everything the Nets need right now.

DeAndre Jordan and Jeff Green have proven to be a serviceable tandem at center, but that doesn’t change the fact that Jordan’s lack of mobility and Green’s 6-foot-8 frame will cause problems against some of the top big men in the league. Theis, who has proven to be a thorn in the side of even the likes of Joel Embiid, could be a major upgrade on the defensive end.

The Nets don’t have a ton of draft capital, which is Ainge’s catnip. However, if they either get a third team involved or package together a few end-of-the-bench players to make the money match up, Theis and his $5 million salary could be moved to Brooklyn.

While Boston’s offense normally doesn’t require a center like Theis to serve as a source of consistent offense, it’s clear that Boston is a much better team on the offensive end when Theis sits and either Thompson or Williams plays the 5. In Brooklyn, all Theis will have to do is defend and grab rebounds, making him an ideal role player for this team.

The Nets don’t have the assets to add another star via trade, so any improvement they make at the deadline will have to be low-key and not overly flashy. Theis is by no means a star, but his skill set could go a long way towards helping the Nets fix their two biggest issues.