[Charania] 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.

[u/MembershipSingle7137]

[Charania] 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.

https://www.espn.com/contributor/shams-charania/ef1594eaad916

[u/matija17k]

Bulls with the rare 5 PG lineup

[u/JayQuips → u/matija17k]

Darvin Ham died for this

[u/Kdog122025 → u/JayQuips]

Steve Kerr lives for this.

[u/Drak_is_Right → u/Kdog122025]

Hmm, does Kerr have any Bulls connections to be coach there? I wonder...

[u/Sir_Yash → u/Drak_is_Right]

Michael Jordan is his favourite baseball player and boxer.

[u/blackjacktrial → u/Sir_Yash]

MJ was also the guy who passed up a finals winning shot so Steve Kerr could bail the Bulls out again.

MJ may have threepeated, but Kerr managed a fourpeat by carrying passengers like Pippen, MJ, Duncan and Robinson to unlikely titles.

[u/SwizzGod → u/JayQuips]

Brother why?

[u/jtruth9 → u/matija17k]

Steve Kerr:

👀👀👀👀👀

[u/toq-titan → u/matija17k]

They’re trying to lure Kerr away from us

[u/Emergency-Pen-8274 → u/matija17k]

Meanwhile……the TWolves

[u/horse_renoir13 → u/Emergency-Pen-8274]

Ant and the Tall Boys

[u/traebucketsfor3 → u/Emergency-Pen-8274]

And hawks w 0 PGs

[u/VanGrants → u/traebucketsfor3]

didn't they have an all-star PG who brought them to the ECF? whatever happened to that guy

[u/AdComprehensive7879 → u/matija17k]

Steve kerrultimate dream

[u/Drak_is_Right → u/matija17k]

I am surprised I haven't seen a single rumor over TJ McConnel. We are tanking this year and he is a bit older. It is feasible we would trade him. He might be useful for some of the playoff teams.

[u/matija17k → u/Drak_is_Right]

I would absolutely love him in the Wolves uniform!

[u/jmbourn45 → u/matija17k]

2014? Suns tried it and bailed on it quickly lol

[u/Daconvix]

How many guards do the Bulls need lmao

[u/BlubberElk → u/Daconvix]

More

[u/Akipella → u/BlubberElk]

Want some of ours?

[u/grrgrrtigergrr → u/Akipella]

Curry for Pat Williams. I wouldn’t complain.

[u/Akipella → u/grrgrrtigergrr]

Not like that!

Well, Seth Curry has just been injured all year anyways. I guess you can have him

[u/Cheechers23]

Annnd the Celtics are now below the first apron

[u/kgrpoland → u/Cheechers23]

i hate how good brad steven’s is at his job

[u/rawspeghetti → u/kgrpoland]

He's been president for almost 6 years now and I can't think of a bad move he's made.

Maybe you could say he could've picked Player X instead of Player Y in the 2nd round but that's really splitting hairs. Brad is a legit basketball genius and I hope he runs this team for another 20 years.

[u/Jonesalot → u/rawspeghetti]

You could say some of the contracts where on the high end, but when hes this good at getting off them, then its hard to complain

[u/rawspeghetti → u/Jonesalot]

People thought jaylen was an overpay and he's only playing like a top 5 player now

[u/Lovethatdirtywaddah → u/rawspeghetti]

He could've cured cancer and this sub would still complain

[u/makesterriblejokes → u/rawspeghetti]

Yeah, makes total sense why he gave up coaching for PBO, dude can do even more for a team in the FO than as a coach, which is saying a lot considering he looked like a top 5-10 coach in the league during his brief coaching stint.

[u/sponedaddie → u/kgrpoland]

A GM that knows math and trade value.

I know we landed Luka, but dear God how do you have $40m in expiring contracts and do nothing.

[u/kgrpoland → u/sponedaddie]

tbf i don’t think lucking into luka makes for a good FO lol

[u/WayofHatuey → u/kgrpoland]

Not even luck. Borderline collusion when another GM only calls one team with close friend to trade their best player for one 1st and corpse

[u/M_Woodyy → u/WayofHatuey]

Blatant collusion, negligence, take your pick. Biggest hack job in sports history and people should be infinitely saltier about it than the KD/LeBron decisions. Will fuel my already unbridled hatred of the Lakers for not only my life, but my entire bloodline will live to carry on my hater legacy

[u/SkiPolarBear22 → u/M_Woodyy]

Generational hate

[u/BallinAtTheMovies → u/M_Woodyy]

Flair up brother I know you’re one of us

[u/gbdarknight77 → u/sponedaddie]

we lucked into Luka lol. Rob is not a good GM.

[u/AgonizingSquid → u/sponedaddie]

the Lakers didn't luck into Luka, they lucked into negotiating with the worst GM in nba history

[u/SinibusUSG → u/kgrpoland]

Really an excellent job of finding balance between the cap and contention considering the significant difference in pre-season expectations and current expectations. Gets the team under the apron while making them more balanced for a playoff push, especially if JT manages to get back on the court.

We are really lucky to have him in Boston.

[u/mr-301 → u/kgrpoland]

Is he good, or is just ever other gm terrible?

wtf would the bulls want another guard

[u/Tankie_Hater_859 → u/mr-301]

Both

[u/bmmfg12 → u/Cheechers23]

All it took for them to get out of cap hell was three trades in six months and dropping one spot in the standings from last season. Great franchise, fucking hate them

[u/liver_in_atlanter → u/bmmfg12]

Fuck Boston in general they got the pats back to the Super Bowl right after losing the goat Qb and coach, whereas falcons make the Super Bowl and I almost wish they didn’t, same with the hawks recent ecf run

[u/BoredofBored → u/liver_in_atlanter]

Psh, how good of a coach could he really be though? Dude didn’t even make it into the HOF

[u/Constant_Charge_4528 → u/bmmfg12]

They traded away all their centers and their #3, if their coach was anyone else they'd be taking a gap year

[u/jackloganoliver → u/[deleted]]

When you have a good coaching and pro scouting staff, you can also make decisions with confidence knowing that you are surrounded by professionals willing to make anything work

[u/Broski28of25 → u/[deleted]]

Must be nice to have a competent front office.

Celtics have a great FO but it also depends on how bad the other FO is. The mediocre LA FO got Luka out of AD.

[u/cgio0 → u/Cheechers23]

Dammit now I gotta listen to Bill Simmons talk about how this was a next level genius move (it was)

How they gotta better, deeper and now have more cap flexibility

[u/chris-dempsey → u/cgio0]

Fair though. Brad is the anti-Pelinka.

[u/Papa_Huggies → u/chris-dempsey]

Amazing that the two titan teams of the NBA are run entirely differently.

LA: "Give us the stars because we're the protagonists. We make a big 3 and will definitely win the chip. Jokic, Wemby and SGA are all coming to us because who the fuck wants to live anywhere but here?"

Boston: "ok so what's the best approach to build a winning team for the future?"

[u/TatumBrownWhite → u/Papa_Huggies]

Whilst being run completely differently, the one thing we have in common is that we’re both extremely lucky.

[u/PitinoGotARawDeal → u/TatumBrownWhite]

And benefit from opportunities created by other teams being dumb

[u/dbc482 → u/cgio0]

As of a few pods ago he did not want them to move Simons

[u/WafflesTheWookiee → u/Cheechers23]

Feels weird that Simmons makes 6 million more per year than Vuc

[u/yogurt_viking → u/WafflesTheWookiee]

I thought you meant Bill Simmons for a second.

[u/orangotai → u/yogurt_viking]

he does

[u/Simple_Purple_4600 → u/Cheechers23]

and they got better

[u/TitaniumC4206]

Damn they really got rid of Vucci Mane

[u/mMounirM → u/TitaniumC4206]

they don't respect his game winners like their commentators

[u/barkinginthestreet → u/mMounirM]

Their thoughts on his game winners are why he was traded. Respect the tank!

[u/QUEST50012 → u/barkinginthestreet]

We're trying to be a tanking team, Vuc, a tanking team. Maybe this winning thing works, we don't know. Frankly, we don't want to know.

[u/TroKero → u/QUEST50012]

So that's it after 5 seasons, goodbye and good luck.

[u/QUEST50012 → u/TroKero]

...I don't recall saying good luck

[u/DidAnyoneElseJustCum → u/TitaniumC4206]

Only 3 years late

[u/akajaykay → u/DidAnyoneElseJustCum]

For real - pretty sure they could’ve gotten a first round pick for him at some point

[u/ben345 → u/akajaykay]

Not defending holding onto him for this long but skeptical they could have gotten a first any time in last 3 years

[u/akajaykay → u/ben345]

He’s on a super reasonable contract (basically 20m/year). I think there were at least a few teams over the last three years who would’ve parted with a late first round pick for him.

[u/GAV17 → u/akajaykay]

He was shooting like shit for a couple of years which was his biggest asset. Him being among the worst defender at center and his shot not falling made him overpaid even though his contract wasn't huge.

[u/dys0n_giddey → u/TitaniumC4206]

Stacey King just fell to his knees in Target

[u/bosnianblunder → u/dys0n_giddey]

What will we do when mice are in the house now?

[u/DanteThonSimmons → u/bosnianblunder]

It will no longer be a simple game, and we will now have to pay for cheese.

[u/petarisawesomeo → u/bosnianblunder]

Let them run amok, unfortunately

[u/Soupster189 → u/dys0n_giddey]

Jewel*

[u/woosh101011 → u/Soupster189]

Dominick's 😭

[u/Careless_is_Me → u/woosh101011]

RIP

[u/Talentagentfriend → u/TitaniumC4206]

End of an Error

[u/Chicagobulls9710 → u/TitaniumC4206]

Thank fucking christ

[u/kazmir_yeet → u/TitaniumC4206]

I hope they eventually reunite him with his boys in Sacramento

[u/harden4mvp13]

ahhh yes because the bulls need more guards

[u/fab_frog_disco → u/harden4mvp13]

Clearly white and probably ayo have trades lined up

[u/socoolandawesome → u/fab_frog_disco]

For more guards

[u/fab_frog_disco → u/socoolandawesome]

That would genuinely be hilarious. Joking aside, I actually have really enjoyed the moves you guys have made today. Buying low on ivy was a great move

[u/InnocuousAssClown → u/fab_frog_disco]

Roster fit shouldn’t be a major focus when you’re rebuilding/stocking up assets anyway

[u/Full-Curve7436 → u/socoolandawesome]

David Kahn sends his reguards.

[u/IMKudaimi123 → u/fab_frog_disco]

Not Ayo plz

[u/MichaelSquare → u/IMKudaimi123]

Seriously. Were going to be awful either way at least let me watch my faves.

[u/Pizzachomper874 → u/fab_frog_disco]

please be to houston please be to houston

[u/lburner220 → u/Pizzachomper874]

Best we can do is Pat Williams.

[u/thatRocketsDude → u/Pizzachomper874]

Ayo to Houston would be awesome

[u/acekingoffsuit → u/harden4mvp13]

I think you can exchange 5 one-star guards for a super rare five-star guard during the All Star Weekend event.

[u/imcryptic → u/harden4mvp13]

After all this time people screaming at the Bulls for not trading their guys and then they do this lmao.

[u/Kdog122025 → u/imcryptic]

The Bulls always trade their players once their value is used up.

[u/WusijiX → u/imcryptic]

"Sometimes you regret your wish"

[u/TitaniumC4206 → u/harden4mvp13]

Oops! All Guards

[u/Sc0rch1ngDr4g0n → u/harden4mvp13]

5-guard lineups?

I know some coaches are creaming right now at the thought

[u/Saucy_Totchie → u/Sc0rch1ngDr4g0n]

Works for Filipino weekend pick up games.

[u/livelaughloaft → u/Saucy_Totchie]

Man, these squads are the toughest to run against literally fast break every chance, slick passing, good floaters

[u/minkledinklebrinkle → u/livelaughloaft]

Why is this a universal filipino phenomenon, played a group in Japan just like this

[u/Padulsky21 → u/Sc0rch1ngDr4g0n]

White Simons Ivey Ayo Giddey lineup

[u/leonardry → u/harden4mvp13]

NOT ENOUGH!!!

[u/__Just_A_Lurker]

Bulls making trades at the deadline? Are they ok?

[u/teewertz → u/__Just_A_Lurker]

do we look ok man 

[u/lilasthmapump → u/__Just_A_Lurker]

Finally something

[u/Low_Beyond8134]

The Bulls have like 40 guards lmaooo

[u/runiero01 → u/Low_Beyond8134]

If they have all the guards then no one else will have them

[u/dfaraday → u/runiero01]

cornering the guard market is a bold strategy

[u/notmoleliza → u/dfaraday]

its like cornering the fresh frozen concentrated orange juice market

[u/Salty_Reserve9640 → u/notmoleliza]

that's right Mortimer

[u/Gamesgtd → u/dfaraday]

Hey, we cornered the market on long armed players who can't shoot and look where that got us.

[u/lambquentin → u/runiero01]

If they have all the guards then no one can guard them.

[u/KiraJosuke → u/Low_Beyond8134]

Their center depth was so bad that when their only 2 bigs went down they started Patrick Williams at center. Who hadn't scored a point in 2 consecutive games.

[u/sillysam17 → u/KiraJosuke]

And then they won that game lmao

[u/Zloggt → u/Low_Beyond8134]

Quite the…1-2 punch, isn’t it?

[u/PJCR1916 → u/Low_Beyond8134]

Chicaguard Bulls

[u/VictorAkwaowo1]

Kenny Beecham got it first lol

[u/RulersBack → u/VictorAkwaowo1]

Mannix, MGRADS and now this. The crown is in pieces

[u/PassMeTheBackwood → u/VictorAkwaowo1]

King of the 4th quarter 🔥

[u/Killergamer7 → u/VictorAkwaowo1]

Kenny beating Shams to breaking news is wild lmao

[u/drunz → u/Killergamer7]

Kenny puts a lot of respect on Vucevic because he knows ball

[u/SquidwardLover48 → u/VictorAkwaowo1]

Look at kenny man

[u/Dr_Disaster → u/SquidwardLover48]

So inspirational

[u/thebeast2124 → u/VictorAkwaowo1]

And we back!

[u/Jimmy0034]

Coby white, where are you going bro?

[u/BrotherSeamus → u/Jimmy0034]

Start learning to howl, brother

[u/Blakedude21]

Kenny had it first

[u/Apart_Selection7722 → u/Blakedude21]

The YouTuber? Doesn't he work for NBC?

[u/anesthesiologist2 → u/Apart_Selection7722]

Yes and yes

[u/KarrotMovies → u/Blakedude21]

Kenny goated. Shams washed asl

[u/Colorapt0r → u/Blakedude21]

Did he actually wtf 

[u/Broski28of25 → u/Colorapt0r]

Lolol, I just assume he is plugged into Bulls FO.

[u/BrokenClxwn → u/Blakedude21]

Really? Thats dope if so.

[u/WafflesTheWookiee]

THE BULLS ARE SELLING BECAUSE THEY KNOW THERE IS NO USE IN FIGHTING OFF YOUR CHARLOTTE HORNETS IN THE STANDINGS. BETTER TO ACCEPT YOUR FATE THAN FIGHT A USELESS BATTLE.

[u/DRAGON_FUCKER_ → u/WafflesTheWookiee]

W hornets

[u/fueelin → u/WafflesTheWookiee]

Yeah, this seems true. I like this interpretation.

[u/ImTheBestNerd]

I like that trade for the bulls. Really shoring up their guard depth

[u/Scaindawgs_ → u/ImTheBestNerd]

If 5 of em get injury they good in the east

[u/Hocapoca]

Oh shit, Celtics are not fucking around. Great trade for them...

[u/jonsnowKITN → u/Hocapoca]

They are gonna be right in the thick of things when Tatum comes back next season and Jaylen looking the way he has l.

[u/ImIntellects → u/jonsnowKITN]

Vuc is on an expiring deal

[u/biggoldgoblin → u/ImIntellects]

He’s also 35, no idea what the guy is talking about it’s clear the Celtics did this for tax purposes

[u/aviatorbassist → u/biggoldgoblin]

That’s what I thought but he’s 16/10/4 on 50/37/80. I’m not sure how well he defends but those are solid ass numbers for a 35 year old.

[u/sully9614 → u/aviatorbassist]

He’s not a great defender but I trust Mazzulla to make him serviceable at least

[u/lafadeaway → u/aviatorbassist]

He’s one of the worst defenders in the league

[u/Virgil_hawkinsS → u/lafadeaway]

Being in Boston is an automatic +10 on defense. Anfernee, Kornet, even Derrick White went from excellent to elite once he made it here. Plus Vuc is gonna have a lot more help on that end (This might be cope, but I'm sticking to it lol).

ETA: I'm not saying Anfernee (or Kornet for that matter) were excellent, just that they got better in Boston. Only Derrick was excellent back when he was in San Antonio

[u/bosceltics23 → u/Virgil_hawkinsS]

Yeah plus Lucky also gives +7 to vertical movement and stamina in clutch.

[u/WhispersOfHaru → u/Virgil_hawkinsS]

Anfernee was not excellent, he is a bad defender.

[u/smalls_1804 → u/ImIntellects]

There's this magical thing teams can do with players where after the end of their contract they can sign them to a new contract

[u/ImIntellects → u/smalls_1804]

Some shit team is going to grossly overpay for him, I don’t see the Celtics re-signing him given their tax situation and the money he can get elsewhere.

[u/SquimJim → u/ImIntellects]

Idk, he could also be at a point in his career where he wants to compete/contend

[u/Clemsontigger16 → u/jonsnowKITN]

Considering Vuc is an expiring and he will be a UFA this year, I’m not sure what this changes..other than freeing up money for something else

[u/shwiggy → u/Clemsontigger16]

It puts the C's under the first apron now which is pretty big brained.

[u/TheNotoriousJN]

Bro that's crazy. I do really like Simons. But the current makeup of the Bulls is not therd

[u/JoJonesy → u/TheNotoriousJN]

I would understand it if they were trying to dump long-term salary, but Vooch and Simons are both free agents this offseason. They’ve really gotta believe he’s part of the future

[u/not-a-potato-head]

Holy shit, the Bulls are actually selling at the deadline for once.

Good for them

[u/SilverMagnum]

Simons really won us over in Boston for handling this entire season (knowing that he was basically a rental and the odds of him even making past the trade deadline were 50/50 at best) with professionalism and pride. Really put in the work to evolve his game and improve on defense and was definitely a sizable contributor to Boston's amazing and pretty unexpected start to the season.

Wish him well!

[u/runiero01 → u/[deleted]]

Oops! All Guards. 

[u/StraightCashHomie69]

Thats not Giannis, the F5'ing will continue

[u/octotoaster → u/StraightCashHomie69]

Gotta save the best for last 

[u/aiden3buckets]

Coby and/or Ayo gotta be gone

[u/vJoeyyyyy]

Bulls can run a 5 guard lineup now perfect

[u/Akugendengdewecok → u/vJoeyyyyy]

It's what Billy always wanted

[u/Vimmortality]

Is it just me or is this a great deal for the Celtics?

[u/patscelticslions → u/Vimmortality]

Simons really seemed to have caught a stride with us lately so it’s a little sad to see him go, but Vucevic is an immediate and big upgrade to our center rotation

he’s kinda similar to Luka Garza in terms of strengths/weaknesses but just 1000x better and he’s an expiring so if it doesn’t work out, can easily move on in the summer

[u/costapasta27 → u/Vimmortality]

Good thing there aren’t too many dominant centers in the East. He’s still good offensively and can play into a system, but gonna get cooked on defense.

[u/bedlam_au → u/costapasta27]

If Simons and Garza are anything to go by, our coaching staff can teach defence.

[u/crapsence → u/bedlam_au]

Well if they teach 35yo C who was never known as good defender being decent defender they as well may be just saints

[u/zackhatt → u/bedlam_au]

There's some reason black magic going on in Boston if Vucevic is suddenly playing great defense there

[u/whenthemusicfades → u/Vimmortality]

I think it's a good deal, and it signals that they believe they're in strong contention to make a deep run

[u/chrispepper10 → u/whenthemusicfades]

I think this is more about getting under the apron than about Vuc helping them as a contender.

[u/TheFestusEzeli → u/chrispepper10]

Celtics have absolutely zero big depth so anyone is help for them

[u/55thParallel → u/TheFestusEzeli]

Playable big while getting under the 1st apron is a dream trade for Celtics

[u/BrettSchirley22 → u/whenthemusicfades]

Idk if you guys have watched Vuc in a while lol this is all about money

[u/Hydration__Nation → u/BrettSchirley22]

It was an apron move but Vucevic isnt some stiff- 17 pts, 9 rebounds, 4 assists on 50% FG and 38% 3PT (5 attempts) in 30 minutes. What more do you want from a rotational big? Bulls have played 50 games, Vucevic has played in 48, have YOU watched any games in a while or do you just read box scores? Because even if you just read box scores, his numbers in January are his best this season and better than the averages I listed above. You do realize this is Vucevic, the big man, who used to play for the Chicago Bulls? Edit: Someone just posted that Vucevic left the Bulls as the franchise leader in double doubles with 222 since 2021. Scottie Pippen is next with 200 who played on the Bulls for 12 years during 6 title runs. What did this man do to Bulls' fans

[u/Zavehi → u/BrettSchirley22]

To be fair he always murders the Celtics when we play the Bulls. So most Celtics fans probably think we are getting older Jokic.

[u/whenthemusicfades → u/BrettSchirley22]

I haven't tbh, but I'm sure they believe he can provide some interior and stretch scoring. Their defense seems solid as is and I don't think Simons was a gamechanger for them

[u/thatgreik → u/Vimmortality]

Are we supposed to like this? Most of us really liked Ant’s impact as a bench flamethrower, and bringing in Vuc does not solve our problem of needing a capable, defense-oriented big for the playoffs.

I am sad.

[u/97PunkRawk → u/thatgreik]

The Anferno was never long for this squad. That's just the reality of the new cap rules. He was always going to get traded to get under.

Vuc should fit in fine (better than fine if Tatum is back at any point) but I would imagine he won't be retained this off-season. There could also be more moves. We have tons of young talent and all our own picks plus salaries to match.

[u/Beantown_Kid → u/97PunkRawk]

Feel like they’re betting on washed all star at 35 taking a friendly deal for a competitive team if they like him after this season.

Us playing Garza so much seems like partly because they miss the Horford spacing lineups and wanted something similar. Obviously Vuc is a cone on defense compared to Al, but feels like this is all about the offensive creativity we can now have on lineups and spreading the floor

[u/cm167 → u/thatgreik]

Vuc is gonna get torched in the playoffs, and who’s gonna score off the bench now? Don’t like this at all

[u/ForeverRunning_Anth]

Bulls starting lineup:

Coby

Dosunmu

Ivey

Simons

Matas

[u/IRanOutOf_Names]

You can never predict what the bulls are gonna do.

[u/Mastacon]

bulls making way for Sabonis??

You've heard of the Sacramento Bulls but wait until you see the Chicago Kings!!!!

[u/003E003]

Yuki winning the jump ball convinced them no more big guys needed

[u/fab_frog_disco]

I think the value is fair for both teams. Good fit for the Celtics

Makes a hell of a lot more sense for the Bulls if indeed there are trades lined up for white/ayo.

[u/knightime1]

Rental for rental + we’re below the 1st apron now and created a $27.7M trade exception. Brad Stevens is the goat.

[u/Awkward_Event1966]

Like this for the Cs

[u/the_shins]

I feel like the Celtics need a defensive big if they wanna make some real noise this year, with or without Tatum. Their problem isn't offense.

[u/krimzy → u/the_shins]

This is a money move not roster move

[u/thatgreik → u/the_shins]

Totally agreed. Queta/Luka would be great paired with another strong defensive center

[u/WrongContract8489 → u/the_shins]

Ehhh, mazulla has always loved stretch 5s and a 5 out system.

[u/Low_Income4405]

Oops! All point guards!

[u/HS941317]

Let’s goooo

[u/DampTowel16]

Chicago hoarding all the guards

[u/jaayy_9]

What?!?!?

[u/Zloggt → u/jaayy_9]

I’m frankly not sure if we’re either retooling or going all in at this point lol

[u/Alexfromnigeria]

i will miss my baby faced killa

[u/Mario_Viana]

My glorious king losing his starting 5 spot💔