Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Veteran Big Man Turned Down Knicks Offer to Sign in Europe

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Sean Deveney | Last updated Aug 11, 2025 12:29 PM ET

Back in February, Daniel Theis was dealt from the Pelicans to the Thunder in what amounted to a cash dump. New Orleans had been a massive disappointment, and with 4.3 points per game, Theis was not doing much, and the Pelicans hoped to carve out a little more roster and financial flexibility by offloading the remainder of his salary.

That's when Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau came calling. He wanted to bring in Theis as an insurance policy against the persistent ankle injuries that had kept center Mitchell Robinson out longer than expected.

There was no guarantee that Theis, a versatile eight-year veteran who had played for the Celtics, Bulls, Rockets, Pacers and Clippers before signing with New Orleans last year, would get playing time for the Knicks. Still, Thibodeau wanted a big body just in case. But that was not enough to keep Theis in the NBA.

Knicks Signed PJ Tucker After Daniel Theis Left for Europe

Theis, though, thought better of it, and turned down the Knicks to sign instead with Monaco, where he joined coach Vassilis Spanoulis, a former Houston Rockets guard.

Theis explained, via EuroHoops: “Before coming to Europe, I had an offer from the Knicks. Mitchell Robinson was coming back from injury. I spoke with Thibodeau and he told me I would be insurance for them if Robinson couldn’t play. I thought, if I stay until the end of the season and don’t play, what chances will I have in the summer?

"So I said, ‘I’m going to Europe. If I play well, I’ll have better chances.’ Maybe I wouldn’t have come to Europe if Spanoulis hadn’t called me. I didn’t just look at the money, but the school, the life, everything.”

Theis made the most of his chance in the French League, averaging 11.7 points and 5.5 rebounds in 23 minutes per game, shooting 60.8% and 35.7% on 3s.

The Knicks, of course, got Robinson back at the end of February and later signed veteran center PJ Tucker to the role that Thibodeau saw for Theis.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: