The Boston Celtics traded Anfernee Simons to the Chicago Bulls for Nikola Vucevic on Tuesday to fill their immediate need at center. While the writing was on the wall for Simons, and the Celtics desperately needed more frontcourt depth, one has to wonder whether Vucevic answers all the questions the Celtics have.
Vucevic immediately becomes the best offensive big man on the roster. He is a very good shooter for his position, can score in a multitude of ways, and can be a passing hub. His fit on the Celtics' offense is undeniable, as he is a better version of Al Horford on that end of the floor.
Vucevic's Defensive Shortcomings Are a Serious Concern for Celtics
The problem for Vooch has always been on defense. He is slow-footed and unathletic. He doesn't have the size and the strength to guard the biggest centers in the game. He also doesn't have the length to affect shots at the rim, making him a net negative on defense.
Joe Mazzulla will hide Vucevic on the opponent's weakest offensive players, and the Celtics have enough defensive talent on the wing to make up for some of his shortcomings. While this plan can be possible in the regular season, it's safe to assume the 35-year-old center would be a liability in the playoffs.
When teams can scheme against your weak defenders, especially if that defender is the big man, it becomes difficult to maintain a high floor on defense. Vucevic could be marginalized in the postseason in favor of Neemias Queta, who is a more balanced, two-way option.
Vucevic is certainly an upgrade over some of the other options the Celtics have. Boston was getting very little out of Xavier Tillman Sr. and Chris Boucher, and they can now move on from them without worrying much about depth. Luka Garza is better suited to a third-string center role. He can come in and bring energy when needed or step up when there are injuries and foul trouble.
So, it's hard to say that this is a bad move, given that the Celtics only moved Simons' expiring contract. Simons was likely leaving in the offseason anyway, and turning him into a player who can make a bigger impact for you this season makes some sense. Plus, the Celtics can re-sign Vucevic to a team-friendly deal over the summer and keep him around as a backup center going forward.
Yet, one has to wonder if better options were available. If the Celtics were willing to offer a first-round pick or two in addition to Simons, could they have traded for Myles Turner, Onyeka Okongwu, or Nic Claxton?
It's hard to know without being sure about who was available on the trade block. Perhaps GM Brad Stevens didn't want to invest significant resources at the deadline and would prefer to make a bigger move in the offseason. But it's clear that Vucevic is a band-aid solution, and the Celtics have to address their center void over the summer. For that reason alone, it's hard to give this trade anything better than a passing grade.