Perhaps the worst-kept secret around the NBA right now is that the Chicago Bulls would love to move on from Nikola Vucevic.
For whatever reason, despite a player like Jusuf Nurkic going for Collin Sexton, the Bulls haven’t been able to find a trade that anybody wants to make. Perhaps the front office is looking for too much, or the simple fact that Vucevic is a decent player, but nothing more than that.
He’s a good shooter, especially for a center, but his lack of defensive ability certainly raises some questions.
When searching for ways to potentially fix that, Matt Moore of FanSided proposed a trade idea with the Boston Celtics. The deal would move on from Vucevic and more to return Anfernee Simons as the key piece.
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Boston Celtics get: Nikola Vucevic, Ayo Dosunmu
Chicago Bulls get: Anfernee Simons, Xavier Tillman
“The Bulls have a logjam of guards, so adding Simons is a little curious. But think of this way. In adding Simons, they can leverage him against Coby White, who is also on an expiring deal. The player who comes out on top gets extended.
“That, along with the Giddey extension, sets their direction for the long-term in the backcourt while Matas Buzelis develops. The Bulls move off Vucevic while getting value,” he wrote.
Simons would be a decent addition for the Bulls, but it’s also important to note that Chicago already has a few guards. Unless the Bulls view Simons as a long-term piece, which is possible given he’s still young, it’s likely better to allow some of their other youngsters to get full-time reps.
