After spending the last couple of seasons hearing his name in trade rumors, Nikola Vucevic is on the move.
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the Chicago Bulls are trading the veteran center to the Boston Celtics, along with a second-round pick. In return, the Celtics are reportedly sending the veteran standout Anfernee Simons and a second-round pick of their own.
Throughout the season, the Celtics were known to be in the market for a veteran front-court addition. They took a big hit during the offseason, losing two key contributors in Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford. The former was traded to the Atlanta Hawks for financial reasons. The latter went to the Golden State Warriors, as the Celtics weren't expected to be contenders in the Eastern Conference this year.
But Boston has been much better than expected, despite the loss of key contributors and the absence of Jayson Tatum. As the All-Star forward deals with an Achilles injury, many wonder if Tatum could make his way back to the court sometime during the spring. Lately, his return has been up in the air, after he spent months teasing a guaranteed comeback.
Either way, the Celtics have signaled they are competing for a title. In Vucevic, they land a two-time All-Star, who has been productive on an underwhelming Chicago Bulls team. Over the past six seasons, Vucevic has averaged 18.1 points and 10.5 rebounds. He attempts 4.4 threes per game, averaging 34 percent of his shots from deep.
This season, Vucevic has appeared in 48 games. He is producing 16.9 points per game on 50 percent shooting. He is averaging nearly a double-double with 8.0 rebounds per game.
With a 31-18 record, the Celtics are tied with the New York Knicks for the second seed in the Eastern Conference. The Detroit Pistons lead the way with a 5.5-game advantage. Meanwhile, the Toronto Raptors trail the Celtics by two games.
While the Celtics part ways with a productive player in Simons, they fill an urgent need with the 35-year-old Vucevic. As for the Bulls, they are reportedly working on more follow-up moves. At 24-26 on the year, the Bulls are once again hovering around the Play-In.
Newsweek