According to Shams Charania of ESPN, the Boston Celtics have traded Anfernee Simons and a second-round pick to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for center Nikola Vucevic and a second-rounder.
Vucevic is 35 years old and in his 15th NBA season. The 6-foot-9 center has started 48 games for the Bulls this season, playing 30.8 minutes per contest. He is averaging 16.9 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 3.8 assists while shooting 44.0% from the field and 37.6% from distance on 4.5 three-point attempts.
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
The big man is on an expiring contract, making just under $21.5 million. This deal puts the Celtics under the first apron for the season.
Meanwhile, Simons had been enjoying an impressive season with the Celtics. Through 49 games with the club, all coming off the bench, Simons averaged 14.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists while shooting 44.0% from the floor and 39.5% from beyond the arc on 6.7 three-point attempts per contest.
Simons has made drastic improvements on defense this season. At the beginning of the year, Joe Mazzulla pulled him off the floor at times for his defense, but he had since become a consistent defensive playmaker for Boston.
Keith Smith of Spotrac provided the specifics of the draft capital involved in the deal. Boston gave up a 2026 second-round pick (the most favorable of the Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans, New York Knicks, and Portland Trail Blazers selections), and Chicago sent back the Denver Nuggets’ second-rounder in 2027.
This is a weird trade for both teams, but for the Celtics, it unfortunately makes sense.
Simons was a luxury. When he was red-hot from behind the arc, it gave the Celtics an added offensive dynamic. It always felt like he was one three away from going on a heater.
But when Simons wasn’t on fire, his impact was much more limited. He had become consistent on defense, but it wasn’t enough of a plus to keep him on the floor for extended periods. And with Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and Payton Pritchard, the Celtics almost always have a solid scoring punch available. (Plus, Jayson Tatum will be back from his injury eventually.)
Meanwhile, the Celtics’ big man rotation has far less room for error. Up to this point in the season, if Neemias Queta or Luka Garza were sidelined, Mazzulla would have to turn to rookie center Amari Williams or be forced to roll with Hugo Gonzalez or Baylor Scheierman at the five.
Vucevic has been a regular starter in the NBA since his sophomore season. It seems relatively likely that he takes the job from Queta, and if not, he’ll be a heavy-minute backup.
The 35-year-old isn’t super agile, so he’ll likely play
