The brief but captivating Anfernee Simons era in Boston has reportedly come to an end.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Celtics are trading Simons and a second-round pick to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for veteran big man Nikola Vucevic and a second-round pick.
At its core, this move is more so about roster balance than anything else. The Celtics arguably had an abundance of guards and arguably had a shortage of post players, so swapping Simons for Vucevic is logical through that lens.
Through another, it’s a debatable move, as Simons had really found a home and was playing some of the best basketball of his career. He’s also 26 and entering his prime, whereas Vucevic is 35 and may not have too many productive years in front of him.
This is one of those trades where you could really argue either way, and I’d be like, “Yeah, you’re right.”
With that in mind, here are five immediate thoughts on the news:
1. Anfernee Simons will be missed.
Simons is a heck of a player who really made the most of his opportunity in Boston. It would have been fun to see him continue to evolve over the next few seasons, but it always felt like this would be a short-term situation.
He deserves a lot of credit for improving his defense, igniting the Celtics on plenty of runs and embracing his role as a reserve. While the move certainly has its benefits, this playoff run won’t be the same without him.
2. Nikola Vucevic is a perfect fit.
The Celtics wouldn’t have traded Simons for just anyone. I’ve always loved Vucevic’s game. He’s a modern 5 who can score inside and out and should fit in well with the Celtics’ current core. I expect him to adapt seamlessly and look like he’s been here all along within a few weeks.
While he may be a bit past his prime, he’s still averaging 16.9 points, 9 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game. He’s known for his scoring, but his passing also shouldn’t be slept on and will make life easier for his teammates in Boston.
3. It should make Boston slightly better.
This move is an indicator that Brad Stevens believes the Celtics are capable of contending, and yes, it may be a sign that Jayson Tatum could return. That’s just speculation, but it’s a fair conclusion to jump to given all the variables at play.
I personally don’t think this move makes them significantly better or worse, but I probably would have done it myself. Vucevic fills a need and is a proven vet who will complement Neemias Queta well. I also wouldn’t be opposed to a double-big lineup of Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Vucevic and Queta in crunch time. He’s the kind of guy that will only help you, not hurt you, so it’s a very safe pickup from that perspective.
4. Speaking of Queta…
It will be interesting to see how Joe Mazzulla incorporates Vucevic. Will his long-term NBA clout immediately vault him into a starting role, or will Mazzulla elect to keep Queta as the starter and bring Vucevic off the bench? It’s very possible he’ll start, but bringing Simons off the bench worked well, so it’s also possible that will happen again here.
Will it also signal the end of Luka Garza, Xavier Tillman or Amari Williams’ time in Boston? I wouldn’t expect the Celtics to trade Queta, but anything is possible when Stevens gets rolling. Queta deserves a lot of credit for the strides he’s made, and I personally would keep him on the roster as long as possible.
5. Matching up in the East
One thing we’ve learned so far this season is that physical teams like the Pistons and Rockets tend to give the Celtics problems. It wasn’t really their fault. The roster wasn’t constructed to fight fire with fire in the paint. Now, the Celtics have more low-post scoring and rim protection.
At the same time, calling Vucevic a great defender would be a bit of a stretch. Can he match up with someone like Jalen Duren or Jarrett Allen in a playoff series and hold his own? Time will tell, but it’s ultimately a move worth making given the fit and the void he fills.