Celtics Trade for Bulls' Star Center

by Matt Hylen

Sportz Nation - 2/3/2026

Photo graphic by WMTW

Well, Brad Stevens has done it again...

In what was an unexpected return package, the Boston Celtics have traded away guard and 6th Man of the Year candidate Anfernee Simons to the Chicago Bulls for center Nikola Vučević and a future second-round pick.

For Boston, I really like this move. Vučević is a proven scorer, rebounder, and floor spacer that can fit into the Celtics' playstyle perfectly. He is an expiring contract, so there is no long-term obligation, and he provides Boston with some much-needed depth at the big man position.

This is a massive win-now move that elevates an overachieving Celtics team that believes in the core that they have. Sure, Vučević is 35 years old, but for a win-now move, trading for a guy averaging 16.9 points and 9 rebounds on 50.5% shooting (37.6% from three) makes sense.

Boston has been over the luxury tax limit for some time now, so re-signing a guy like Simons, who likely will demand big-time money this offseason and rightfully so, was never in the cards for the Celtics. With Vučević being in the twilight years of his career, it allows Boston to get the depth they need now without the limitation of a big contract.

I also believe this move was made because the team believes Jayson Tatum will be back this season. If Tatum returns, running a lineup of Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Sam Hauser, Tatum, and Vučević, with Payton Pritchard going back to the bench, should absolutely scare the teams in the East. Even if you wanted to keep Pritchard in the starting lineup and move Hauser to the bench, Vučević allows for more flexibility and more floor spacing in a three-point-heavy offense.

For Chicago, they are getting a much younger guard with the potential to be an all-around great player. Simons has not only shot the ball very effectively for Boston this year, but has also improved his defensive ability dramatically. Plus, if things do not work out, Simons is on an expiring contract anyway, so Chicago has no long-term obligation. Regardless, Simons is still a young player with endless offensive potential, which could bode well for a Bulls team who finally seem to want to start a rebuild around their young core.

With that said, it confuses me a little with how many guards are on this Bulls team at the moment. With Coby White, Josh Giddey, Ayo Dosunmu, and now Simons and Jaden Ivey, it seems very crowded. My assumption is that more moves are coming for Chicago, likely involving Dosunmu and/or White, but time will tell on that one.

Overall, I think this is a good trade for both sides. Vučević is a win-now player while keeping financial stability, while Simons will get an opportunity to prove he can be a big-time free agent in the offseason.

-Matt Hylen (@matthylen_)