Celtics Land Nikola Vucevic from Bulls in Swap for Anfernee Simons
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Boston — The Boston Celtics have reached an agreement to obtain center Nikola Vucevic from the Chicago Bulls, sending guard Anfernee Simons and a second-round draft pick the other way, according to multiple league sources on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026.
The move addresses Boston’s long-running search for additional size while trimming the club’s luxury-tax bill. ESPN’s Bobby Marks reported that exchanging Simons’ $27 million expiring salary for Vucevic’s $21 million expiring contract reduces the Celtics’ projected tax payment by more than $20 million.
Vucevic, 6-foot-9, has averaged 16.9 points and 9.0 rebounds across 48 games for Chicago this season. He joins a frontcourt that has leaned heavily on emerging starter Neemias Queta, who is contributing 10.0 points, 8.0 boards and 1.3 blocks per game, alongside reserve big man Luka Garza.
Simons, 26, posted 14.2 points per game as a key scorer off Boston’s bench. His departure leaves the Celtics (31-18) with their backcourt core of Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and Payton Pritchard intact as they sit tied with the New York Knicks for the Eastern Conference’s second-best record.
For Chicago, Tuesday’s exchange marked the franchise’s second deal of the day. Earlier, the Bulls routed Kevin Huerter to the Detroit Pistons in a three-team arrangement that also involved the Minnesota Timberwolves and brought back guard Jaden Ivey. With unrestricted free agents Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu still on the roster, additional Bulls moves remain possible ahead of Thursday’s 3 p.m. ET trade deadline.
Source: ESPN
