Nikola Vučević’s brief time with the Boston Celtics appears to be coming to an end. The veteran center arrived in Boston at the trade deadline, hoping to prove himself on a contender, but the move never really took off the way either side wanted.
Now, with free agency on the horizon, one of the most plugged-in voices in the league has weighed in on where things stand. According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the door in Boston has all but closed on the two-time All-Star.
NBA Insider Predicts Nikola Vučević Will Leave Boston Celtics in Free Agency
Stein believes Vučević has played his last game for the Celtics and will join a new team once free agency opens.
“Want a free agency lock? Former All-Star center Nikola Vučević is increasingly regarded as a certainty to switch teams this summer after a fractured right ring finger in March helped derail his brief stint as a Boston Celtic in the spring,” Stein wrote on his Substack.
“He’ll be 36 in October but figures to draw some interest on the open market given that there is generally always a clamor for floor-spacing big men.”
Stein is right in suggesting that there should be a market for him. A lot of teams want a big man who can space the floor and knock down outside shots, and that has been the strongest part of Vučević’s game in recent years. Even at this stage of his career, that skill set should keep his name in the mix when teams start handing out contracts.
Boston acquired Vučević from the Chicago Bulls in February in exchange for Anfernee Simons and a second-round pick. The trade was made mostly to help the team save more than $20 million in luxury tax payments, but adding the shooting big man was a nice bonus.
However, a fractured right ring finger in March kept him out for most of the month and limited him to just 16 regular-season games with Boston. He averaged 9.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2.0 assists, while shooting 43.9% from the floor in those games.
His postseason production was limited due to shooting inconsistencies. Over six first-round games against the Philadelphia 76ers, Vučević averaged 6.2 points and 4.3 rebounds in about 19 minutes a night while shooting just 37.8% from the field and 29.2% from beyond the arc.
By Game 7, head coach Joe Mazzulla chose not to play him at all. That call came even though Jayson Tatum was out with an injury and Boston badly needed scoring, and the Celtics went on to lose the game 109-100.
The team is now focused on sorting out the center spot this summer. Money seems tight, and the Celtics have several player decisions to make, which makes it tough to pay Vučević and still upgrade the roster. Neemias Queta and Luka Garza will both still be around as backup options, but Boston wants someone who can hold up better on defense at the five.
Vučević earned $21.48 million this past season and will become an unrestricted free agent this summer.
