The Boston Celtics have shaken off a rocky start to the season to get back on their feet. With Jayson Tatum still out and this team not getting much from their centers, though, they could be very active in the trade market if the Celtics are confident that the playoffs are a legitimate goal.
Dec. 15 will be a crucial date in the NBA. That's when players who signed a contract in the offseason will be eligible to be traded. More than that, it will also be a point at which most teams will already know whether they want to be buyers or sellers.
With that in mind, Celtics general manager Brad Stevens could reach out to a fellow Eastern Conference playoff hopeful to discuss a trade. While he's already eligible to be traded, the Chicago Bulls might want to wait a little longer before taking calls for Nikola Vucevic.
Celtics Must Target Bulls' Nikola Vucevic for Trade
Vucevic has clearly had it with the Bulls' losing ways. He snubbed his teammates when they were celebrating after barely beating the Washington Wizards, and he made it loud and clear that they hadn't been good enough.
Vucevic is on an expiring contract, and he doesn't sound like someone who's too eager to put pen to paper to return to Billy Donovan's team right now. Considering that, the Celtics could send Anfernee Simons' expiring contract to the Windy City with a second-round pick to get their hands on the scoring big man.
Granted, Vucevic is 35 years old already, so his best years might be far behind him. Nevertheless, he's still averaging 16.7 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game on 49.5% shooting from the floor and 40.7% shooting from beyond the arc this season. He may not have Al Horford's defensive expertise or IQ, but he can give this team the floor-spacing big man they've been missing this season, all while also providing some play-making and rebounding.
Vucevic is a 15-year veteran who would value the opportunity to play for a championship for a chance, so he might even consider taking a massive pay cut in his next deal to stay with the Celtics when Jayson Tatum returns from injury.
As for Simons, the Bulls would get a shot-creator who's yet to enter his prime, and they could sign him to a long-term contract extension to lead the offense next to Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis. It's the ultimate win-win trade for all parties involved, meaning the Celtics shouldn't waste any time phoning the Windy City if it means beating other potential Vucevic suitors to the punch.