BREAKING NEWS: Raptors have found an upgrade to Christian Koloko in Pacers trade target as the set to hijack trade deal.

The Toronto Raptors had high hopes for second-year big man Christian Koloko heading into the 2023-24 season, but a mysterious respiratory condition has kept him out for the first few games. Could Indiana Pacers big man Daniel Theis be the Raptors’ savior?

With Koloko out, Darko Rajakovic has tried to rotate Precious Achiuwa and Chris Boucher in an attempt to find a viable backup to Jakob Poeltl. Nobody will be surprised to learn that neither of them has been able to replicate Poeltl’s low-post game convincingly.

The Los Angeles Clippers are reportedly interested in trading for him. If Theis, who was once a Raptors target, is truly available, Masai Ujiri would be wise to call Indiana and find out what the going rate is for him.

Theis could be the guy for the Raptors if they want a proven veteran defender and rebounder who won’t demand the ball and won’t cost an arm and a leg. Of course, the Raptors must continue to win in order for Toronto to progress in that direction.

Could the Raptors make a trade for Daniel Theis?
Theis hasn’t seen much action for Indiana in recent years, but he’s built a decent career for himself as a backup rotational big, primarily with the Celtics. In 2021-22, Theis averaged 8.2 points and 4.9 rebounds per game as a regular rotational presence.

Theis may not be as tall as Koloko, but he provides the same rebounding and interior defense that Toronto has prioritized. While he lacks Chris Boucher’s energy and Precious Achiuwa’s athleticism, Theis provides more interior muscle than the former and less wild inconsistency than the latter.

Theis and Raptors point guard Dennis Schroder already have some chemistry, having played for the German national team at the FIBA World Cup. For the gold medalists, Theis averaged 10.9 points and 5.4 rebounds per game on 59% shooting.

A low-risk addition who could help a bench in desperate need of consistency add a veteran presence with plenty of rebounding and post defense skills left in the tank, Theis could be an ideal Raptor if Masai Ujiri has the foresight to get a deal done.