Theis was the Rockets’ prime free agent acquisition in 2021 when the team signed him to a four year, $35.61 million contract that will pay him $8.28 million during the 2021-2022 season. The deal has a team option in 2024-2025. The Rockets had originally used the $8.28 million trade exception created in the Victor Oladipo trade with the Miami Heat to acquire Theis in a sign-and-trade with the Chicago Bulls.
The Rockets were outscored by 16.9 points per 100 possessions when Theis was on the floor, second worst on the team behind 19-year-old Jalen Green. The team scored just 93.9 points per 100 possessions with Theis on the floor, the worst mark of any Rocket - this figure was undoubtedly a function of the compromised spacing the team experienced in Theis-centric lineups.