The Boston Celtics have been one of the surprises of the season, starting 31-18, tied for the second-best mark in the Eastern Conference.
The Celtics have been one of the elite franchises over the past few seasons, but with the Achilles injury to Jayson Tatum, the trades of Jrue Holiday to Portland and Kristaps Porzingis to Atlanta, and the loss of Al Horford to the Golden State Warriors, not much was expected this season.
Instead, the Celtics have become buyers at the deadline, acquiring veteran center Nikola Vučević from the Chicago Bulls.
Celtics Trade Anfernee Simons to Bulls for Nikola Vučević
According to ESPN NBA Insider Shams Charania, the Celtics have dealt guard Anfernee Simons to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for veteran center. The Bulls will also receive a second-round pick in the deal.
Charania wrote on X, “BREAKING: The Chicago Bulls are trading center Nikola Vucevic and a second-round pick to the Boston Celtics for Anfernee Simons and a second-round pick, sources tell ESPN.”
BREAKING: The Chicago Bulls are trading center Nikola Vucevic and a second-round pick to the Boston Celtics for Anfernee Simons and a second-round pick, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/aScaobfZmv
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 3, 2026
Vučević has never been a flashy player and has had his lapses defensively, but he has been a scoring and rebounding machine throughout his 14-year career, averaging 17.2 points and 10.4 rebounds per game.
Although he is now 35, Vučević is having another strong campaign, putting up 16.9 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 3.8 assists in 30.8 minutes per game. He’s shooting 50.5% from the field and 37.6% from beyond the arc, both above his career averages (49.8%, 35.1%).
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His scoring and presence inside could be a major key for the Celtics down the stretch. Not only did Boston lose Horford in free agency, but backup center Luke Kornet also signed with the San Antonio Spurs in the offseason.
Vučević agreed to a three-year, $60 million deal with the Bulls prior to the 2023-24 season, which will expire at the end of the season.
Simons has been known to fill up a stat sheet in the past, but never really found his groove in Boston. The 24th overall pick of the 2018 NBA Draft is scoring 14.2 points per game while shooting 44.0% from the field and 39.5% from three.
Simons is owed $27,678,571 this season, but he is in the final year of a four-year, $100 million deal, meaning he will come off the books for the Bulls this summer, perfect for a team that may finally be committed to a rebuild.
Although holding on to Vučević, who is also an expiring contract, may have resulted in a similar outcome, the Bulls do receive a pick in the deal and will likely see their projected win total drop by a game or two.
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The Bulls are currently 24-26, good for ninth in the East. The Bulls traded veteran guard Kevin Huerter to the Detroit Pistons in a three-team deal involving the Minnesota Timberwolves earlier Tuesday.
We’ll see if the Celtics continue to add to their roster or the Bulls continue to deal away contributors for assets, as we are now less than 48 hours away from Thursday’s trade deadline.
