The NBA’s transaction wire lit up with three separate deals on Tuesday, headlined by the Boston Celtics acquiring center Nikola Vucevic from the Chicago Bulls and the Utah Jazz landing former Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr.
Celtics and Bulls Swap Vucevic and Simons
Boston receives Vucevic plus Denver’s 2027 second-round pick, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. Chicago picks up guard Anfernee Simons and the most favorable 2026 second-rounder from a four-team pool—projected to be New Orleans’ selection—per Spotrac’s Keith Smith.
Vucevic, 33, is averaging 16.9 points and 9.0 rebounds on an expiring $21.5 million contract. Adding the veteran center fills Boston’s depleted frontcourt and lowers the club’s projected luxury-tax payment by more than $22 million, taking the Celtics below the first apron.
Simons had become a key bench scorer for Boston but heads to a Chicago backcourt that already features Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, and others. Moving Vucevic officially ends the Bulls’ 2021 trade experiment that originally brought the center to Chicago.
Three-Team Deal Sends Ivey to Chicago
In a separate transaction, the Detroit Pistons traded guard Jaden Ivey to Chicago in a three-team arrangement that also involved the Minnesota Timberwolves.
- Chicago receives Ivey and veteran point guard Mike Conley (from Minnesota).
- Detroit gets Kevin Huerter, Dario Saric, and a protected 2026 first-round pick swap with the Timberwolves.
- Minnesota sheds Conley’s $10.8 million expiring salary, moves below the first apron, and generates a trade exception.
Ivey, 22, had struggled to regain a steady role in Detroit after injuries. Huerter and Saric provide immediate shooting depth for the Pistons.
Jazz Pull Off Blockbuster for Jackson Jr.
The Utah Jazz stunned the league by acquiring Jaren Jackson Jr. along with John Konchar, Vince Williams Jr., and Jock Landale from the Memphis Grizzlies.
Memphis receives rookies Walter Clayton and Taylor Hendricks, forward Kyle Anderson, Georges Niang, and three first-round picks: the Lakers’ 2027 selection, the most favorable of Cleveland/Minnesota/Utah’s 2027 picks, and Phoenix’s unprotected 2031 first.
The move gives Utah a projected frontcourt of Lauri Markkanen, Jackson, and Walker Kessler while still leaving the Jazz with at least one first-rounder in every future draft. Memphis now controls 12 first-round picks over the next seven drafts.
All three trades are pending league approval.
Source: Hoops Wire
