The Boston Celtics have traded Dennis Schröder to the Houston Rockets in a package for center Daniel Theis on Thursday. Boston also sent Enes Freedom and Bruno Fernando to Houston in the deal.

Schröder, 28, appeared in 49 games for Boston this season, averaging 14.4 points, 3.3 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game. He signed a one-year, $5.9 million contract with the team last offseason after turning down a four-year, $84 million contract extension from the Lakers.

Schröder suffered an injury late last season and struggled in the Lakers' first-round playoff loss to the Phoenix Suns. Los Angeles replaced Schröder with Russell Westbrook in the offseason.

Theis returns to the Celtics where he was a key rotation piece from 2017-21. He averaged 8.4 points and 5.0 rebounds in 26 games with Houston this season. Freedom and Fernando averaged 3.0 and 1.0 points per game with the Celtics this season, respectively.

Boston also acquired Derrick White from the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday in exchange for Josh Richardson, sources told The Athletic. The Celtics gave up Romeo Langford and draft picks as part of the deal, according to sources. White, 27, averaged 14.4 points and 5.6 assists per game for the Spurs this season and also led the team with a 0.110 defensive win share.

(Photo: Gregory Shamus / Getty Images)

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What Theis brings to the Celtics (again)

Jared Weiss, Celtics beat writer: Quite the ironic reunion for the Celtics and Theis, considering they traded him and Javonte Green last year to duck the tax, then trade right back for him as part of a deadline day in which the team ducked the tax again.

Who knows what Theis' future will be in Boston long-term, but he should be ready to make an impact off the bench when he returns to his original NBA home.

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Why did Boston want to trade Schröder?

Weiss: The Celtics had been steadfast in trying to move Schröder, even as rumors started circulating this week they were content to hold the roster together after dumping some cap fodder to get under the tax.

The Athletic reported last month the Celtics were looking for a backup center, so moving Schröder and their extra centers who weren't playing for someone who has a great history in Boston makes sense. Except for that long, long contract.

What Schröder brings to the Rockets

Kelly Iko, Rockets beat writer: Presuming he doesn't start, Schröder should be able to provide Houston with some scoring punch off the bench, especially while Eric Gordon continues to be sidelined with plantar fasciitis. It's unclear what the Rockets' long-term goals are with Schröder — he's on a one-year deal worth about $5.8 million —but he'll give head coach Stephen Silas another capable offensive option on the floor for the final 28 games of the season.

He's more of a score-first ball handler than a playmaker, but that shouldn't be a problem if he's playing off the ball and sharing the floor with young players like Jalen Green, Josh Christopher and Kevin Porter Jr., giving them a quality release valve.