Theis is a 32-year-old center who's averaging 4.3 points and 4.3 rebounds in 16.3 minutes per game this season, and he's on an expiring $2.1-million contract. OKC has been short-handed at the five this season.

Tonight at 8 p.m., the Pelicans continue their road trip against the Denver Nuggets. When the trade was announced, the Pelicans wrapped up shootaround and huddled up to say their goodbyes to Theis, according to The Athletic Pelicans beat reporter Will Guillory.

The Pelicans are in the midst of another lost season as they sit 12-38 with the second-worst record in the Western Conference. They lost guard Dejounte Murray to a torn Achilles tendon on Friday which was just the latest in a long line of bad injury luck.