Celtics Land Nikola Vucevic In Pre-Deadline Trade Shakeup

The Boston Celtics have made a decisive splash just days before the NBA trade deadline, shaking up their roster and financial outlook with a high-profile move. On Tuesday, February 3, 2026, the Celtics sent guard Anfernee Simons and a second-round pick to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for veteran center Nikola Vucevic and a future second-rounder, according to multiple league sources and confirmed by ESPN’s Shams Charania. With the NBA trade deadline looming at 3 p.m. on Thursday, February 5, all eyes are now on Boston’s next steps as the front office continues to tinker with the roster and payroll.

Vucevic, a 35-year-old two-time All-Star, arrives in Boston with a reputation as a reliable interior presence and a proven stretch big. This season with the Bulls, he’s averaging 16.9 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 3.8 assists in 30.8 minutes per game, shooting an impressive 50.5% from the field, 37.6% from three-point range, and 83.8% from the free-throw line. Over the last season and a half, he’s knocked down 39.1% of his threes, a vital asset for a Celtics squad looking to add both size and offensive versatility to its frontcourt.

"Vučević fits perfectly into what the Celtics want to do offensively. Remember all that stuff Horford and Porziņģis were capable of doing on offense? Vučević does all of that. Maybe not as well as Porziņģis when healthy, but he’s somewhere between what an older Horford and a healthy KP can give them," one league analyst commented. It’s clear Boston is hoping Vucevic’s skill set will fill the void left by injuries and recent departures, particularly after a summer roster overhaul driven by second-apron penalties and the devastating Achilles injury to star forward Jayson Tatum.

Vucevic is expected to slide directly into the starting center role, replacing Neemias Queta, who has admirably anchored the position but now shifts into a backup role. The projected starting lineup now features Payton Pritchard and Derrick White at guard, Jaylen Brown at small forward, Sam Hauser at power forward, and Vucevic at center. This adjustment not only boosts Boston’s offensive options but also strengthens the bench, with Queta, Luka Garza, and Amari Williams now providing depth in the paint.

Financially, the trade is a shrewd move for the Celtics. By swapping Simons’ $27.4 million salary for Vucevic’s $21.5 million contract, Boston trims about $5.9 million off its payroll. More importantly, this maneuver slashes their repeater tax penalty by a hefty $21.8 million, leaving the team just $5.9 million over the luxury tax line and facing approximately $17.7 million in luxury tax penalties. With the deadline approaching, Boston’s front office is reportedly not finished—league sources suggest the Celtics are still exploring deals to shed additional salary and potentially dip under the tax line entirely, a move that would reset their repeater tax clock and offer long-term financial relief.

Chris Boucher, a rotation big man, has emerged as a likely candidate to be moved in a subsequent trade. However, sources caution that Boston may need to part with more than just minimum-salary players to achieve their payroll goals. There’s even speculation that Vucevic himself could be rerouted in a larger deal if the right opportunity arises, though for now, the expectation is that he’ll bolster the Celtics’ playoff push.

For Chicago, the trade signals a continued focus on flexibility and guard depth. Anfernee Simons, who joined Boston in the 2025 offseason and averaged 14.2 points and 39.5% from three-point range during his brief stint as a Celtic, arrives in Chicago on an expiring contract. The Bulls have also been active elsewhere, reportedly acquiring Jaden Ivey and stockpiling more guards. The strategy seems geared toward creating options for further moves—potentially flipping Coby White or Ayo Dosunmu, both on expiring deals, before the deadline buzzer sounds.

Some analysts have questioned the Bulls’ return in this deal. "Are the Bulls trying to create a roster mostly made up of guards? They’re acquiring Jaden Ivey in a different trade, and now bringing in Simons. Granted, Simons is on an expiring deal, so this might not be a long-term play at all," one commentator mused. The consensus is that Chicago is setting the table for more activity, using Simons’ expiring contract and the acquired pick as potential trade chips.

From the Celtics’ perspective, the addition of Vucevic is as much about addressing on-court needs as it is about managing the books. Boston’s rebounding has lagged this season—they rank just 19th in defensive rebounding rate—while Vucevic helped anchor the Bulls as the league’s fourth-best defensive rebounding team. His pick-and-pop game, passing ability, and floor spacing should open up new wrinkles for head coach Joe Mazzulla, especially as the Celtics aim to stay afloat in the Eastern Conference playoff race without Tatum.

Still, there are trade-offs. While Vucevic brings offensive firepower and rebounding, his defensive limitations could pose challenges, especially against the East’s elite big men in the postseason. The Celtics will need to find the right balance, perhaps leaning on Queta’s energy and athleticism in certain matchups or exploring creative lineups that maximize their new center’s strengths while masking his weaknesses.

Historically, Vucevic is no stranger to midseason moves or playoff pushes. After nine seasons with the Orlando Magic, where he earned All-Star nods in 2019 and 2021, he joined the Bulls in the 2020-2021 season and has remained a steady presence ever since. Now, with his contract set to expire this summer, Vucevic’s Boston tenure could be a short-term rental—or, if the fit is right, perhaps the beginning of a new chapter.

As for the Celtics’ broader strategy, the front office appears committed to resetting the repeater tax penalties by staying out of the luxury tax for the next two seasons. This trade is a bold step in that direction, but more moves may be on the horizon before Thursday’s deadline. With Boston just shy of the tax threshold, every dollar matters, and fans should expect a flurry of activity in the coming hours.

With the NBA trade deadline fast approaching, the Celtics’ acquisition of Nikola Vucevic has set the stage for a fascinating finish to the week. Whether Boston stands pat or continues to wheel and deal, one thing’s for sure—the Celtics are determined to stay competitive while keeping an eye on their financial future. The next 48 hours could be pivotal for both the team’s postseason hopes and its long-term outlook.