DALLAS — The Celtics have traded Anfernee Simons and a second-round pick to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Nikola Vucevic, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on Tuesday.
Vucevic, who is 35 years old, has averaged 16.9 points, 9 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game this season. He’s shot 50.5% from the field and 37.6% from three, and has been one of the league’s premier stretch bigs.
Vucevic has been a starter in the NBA since his rookie season in 2011-2022. He was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers, spent 9 years with the Orlando Magic, and has played for the Bulls since 2021.
The move gives Boston additional center depth alongside Neemias Queta and Luka Garza. The Celtics have not utilized Xavier Tillman nor Chris Boucher in the frontcourt, and have almost exclusively relied on Queta, Garza, and small-ball lineups.
Both Queta (10.1 points, 8.1 rebounds) and Garza (7.7 points, 4.3 rebounds) are having career years, but it has long been understood that the Celtics will need additional frontcourt depth moving forward.
Whether Vucevic is a long-term solution here remains to be seen; the Montenegrin basketball player is on an expiring deal, but could potentially extend with the Celtics moving forward.
Anfernee Simons leaves the Celtics after a great stint
Anfernee Simons departs the Celtics after being acquired this past summer in the trade that sent Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers. Simons averaged 14.2 points and 2.4 assists per game this season, shooting 44% from the field and 39.5% from three.
Throughout his brief tenure, Simons earned the praise of his teammates and coaches, who often heralded him for his improvement on the defensive end. In December, he held the best plus-minus in the entire NBA, and in January, he recorded his best game in green, exploding for 39 points in a comeback win against the Miami Heat.
The move has positive financial implications for Boston, getting the Celtics under the first apron for the first time in the Joe Mazzulla era. The Celtics offload Simons’ $27.7 million expiring contract to the Bulls, while taking on Vucevic’s $21.5 million expiring contract.
The Celtics are now $6 million from being under the luxury tax altogether.
This story will be updated as more information is available.