Report: Celtics trade Anfernee Simons for Nikola Vucevic

According to Shams Charania of ESPN, the Boston Celtics have traded Anfernee Simons and a second-round pick to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for center Nikola Vucevic and a second-rounder.

Vucevic is 35 years old and in his 15th NBA season. The 6-foot-9 center has started 48 games for the Bulls this season, playing 30.8 minutes per contest. He is averaging 16.9 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 3.8 assists while shooting 44.0% from the field and 37.6% from distance on 4.5 three-point attempts.

The big man is on an expiring contract, making just under $21.5 million. This deal puts the Celtics under the first apron for the season.

Meanwhile, Simons had been enjoying an impressive season with the Celtics. Through 49 games with the club, all coming off the bench, Simons averaged 14.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists while shooting 44.0% from the floor and 39.5% from beyond the arc on 6.7 three-point attempts per contest.

Simons has made drastic improvements on defense this season. At the beginning of the year, Joe Mazzulla pulled him off the floor at times for his defense, but he had since become a consistent defensive playmaker for Boston.

Keith Smith of Spotrac provided the specifics of the draft capital involved in the deal. Boston gave up a 2026 second-round pick (the most favorable of the Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans, New York Knicks, and Portland Trail Blazers selections), and Chicago sent back the Denver Nuggets' second-rounder in 2027.

BSJ Analysis

This is a weird trade for both teams, but for the Celtics, it unfortunately makes sense.

Simons was a luxury. When he was red-hot from behind the arc, it gave the Celtics an added offensive dynamic. It always felt like he was one three away from going on a heater.

But when Simons wasn't on fire, his impact was much more limited. He had become consistent on defense, but it wasn't enough of a plus to keep him on the floor for extended periods. And with Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and Payton Pritchard, the Celtics almost always have a solid scoring punch available. (Plus, Jayson Tatum will be back from his injury eventually.)

Meanwhile, the Celtics' big man rotation has far less room for error. Up to this point in the season, if Neemias Queta or Luka Garza were sidelined, Mazzulla would have to turn to rookie center Amari Williams or be forced to roll with Hugo Gonzalez or Baylor Scheierman at the five.

Now, he has Vucevuc.

Vucevic has been a regular starter in the NBA since his sophomore season. It seems relatively likely that he takes the job from Queta, and if not, he'll be a heavy-minute backup.

The 35-year-old isn't super agile, so he'll likely play drop defense, but his veteran IQ still makes him relatively effective. The real boost he brings is on the glass and on offense.

As a passer, he should give the Celtics a lot of options to play with in the short roll, and his screening makes him a perfect fit in the pick-and-roll. Plus, he has a nice blend of touch around the basket and three-point shooting.

It's not perfect. Simons had become a great player in the rotation. A constant source of offense and energy. But the need for an extra center outweighed the need for Simons, even if that center is on the older side and still on an expiring contract. Vucevic is on the older side, too, so that's something ot consider when it comes to his defensive downside.

But he's still a quality basketball player. He plays over 30 minutes a night. And he very clearly cares about winning.

There will always be question marks when adding a new personality to a team that has already established a rhythm. Boston has a certain way of doing things, and Vucevic will have to adapt. Mazzull is as unique a coach as there is in the NBA. That's another thing Vucevic will have to adapt to.

Vucevic has wanted to win for a while now. This will be his first real chance to compete deep into the postseason, and that could be something he relishes.

Adding an extra center to a very thin frontcourt will be worthwhile for the Celtics. It gives Mazzulla one more option to play with at the five.

And with Tatum's return looming in the distance, that's far more important than having an extra ball-handler. Plus, if Boston can figure out a way to retain Vucevic on a (much) smaller extension this summer, it would be an even bigger win.

That said, as a small side note, the Celtics giving up what will likely be the Pelicans' 2026 second-rounder in the deal isn't great. That's basically a first-round pick, but without the guarantee of having to hand out the contract that comes with being a first-round pick. 

The deal is still worth it, as Boston adds some necessary big-man depth, but the cost of the transaction is certainly more than meets the eye.

As for the Bulls side of things, they now have a ton of guards on the roster - something that will have to be addressed in the next 48 hours.