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Boston Celtics: Daniel Theis the best value on a championship contender

By Tarringo Basile-vaughan

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - FEBRUARY 21: (EDITOR'S NOTE: This image has been converted to black and white.) Daniel Theis #27 of the Boston Celtics looks on during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center on February 21, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - FEBRUARY 21: (EDITOR'S NOTE: This image has been converted to black and white.) Daniel Theis #27 of the Boston Celtics looks on during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center on February 21, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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Bleacher Report recently named Boston Celtics big man Daniel Theis as the best value contract on the team and here is why they are absolutely right.

When the NBA returns to play in Orlando in late July, the Boston Celtics are one of the teams favored to make some noise.

Not only do they have star power in the quartet of Jayson Tatum, Kemba Walker, Jaylen Brown and Gordon Hayward, they also have a couple role players who will be factors when the NBA finishes the 2019-20 season in the bubble.  One of those players is Daniel Theis.

Listed by Bleacher Report as the player on the Celtics team with the best value contract, the German big man is not only proving himself as a solid contributor on a talented team, he is also gaining recognition around the league.

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With a contract of $5 million per year through 2020-2l, here is what BR had to say about why they chose Daniel Theis over a player like Marcus Smart:

"“Theis is a big reason the Boston Celtics have sneakily been ahead of the curve on positionless basketball.  Playing three similarly sized wings in Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and Gordon Hayward obviously points to that, but Theis is only 6’8” himself.”"

Given the fact that the Boston Celtics don’t have a traditional big man who can bang with a player like Philadelphia 76ers big man Joel Embiid, Theis has become the type of versatile big man Brad Stevens loves.

He is not even 6-foot-10, but he plays big with his ability to rebound and protect the rim defensively.  Like Marcus Smart, he can defend multiple positions and also helps the team offensively.

Theis came into the league as a stretch, athletic big who can knock down outside shots.  That has really translated in the 2019-20 season in which Daniel Theis has put together some solid offensive performances, which includes a very impressive career game against the Minnesota Timberwolves in February.

In a 127-117 Boston Celtics victory, Theis scored 25 points and pulled down 16 rebounds in less than 28 minutes played.  That is exactly the type of performance from the 4 or 5 position that will make the Celtics a very dangerous team, even if Theis contributes just half of that.

Again, with Jayson Tatum, Kemba Walker, Jaylen Brown and Gordon Hayward as the primary scores, Daniel Theis is proving as a valuable complimentary piece who happens to come cheap.

In averaging 9.3 points and 6.6 rebounds in 2019-10, the Boston Celtics big man has not only displayed consistency on the court, he is also an X-factor in just how far the team will go once the NBA restarts in Orlando.

Next. Boston Celtics: Kemba Walker under pressure as NBA season resumes. dark

An athletic big man who can defend and knock down shots may be enough to offset the disadvantage the Celtics will have going up against players who dominate above the rime like Joel Embiid, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Anthony Davis.

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