"Man... has anyone else's timeline been absolutely flooded with trade rumors today, or is it just me? From Giannis Antetokounmpo to Trey Murphy, everybody caught a stray. Fortunately for the Bulls, Nikola Vučević's name was in the mix too, and unfortunately for the Bulls, it involved a trade that went absolutely nowhere. Michael Scotto, NBA insider for HoopsHype, reported that the Chicago Bulls offered the Boston Celtics Nikola Vučević and were expecting a return of Anfernee Simons and a first-round pick. Boston, "wasn't interested.""
"There are really two ways to look at this report-and the timing is everything. Simons was brought in by the Celtics as part of their offseason maneuvering to dodge the second apron, moving on from the Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porziņģis contracts. Nobody ever expected Simons to be a long-term piece in Boston anyway. The roster was already guard-heavy with Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, and Jaylen Brown firmly in place. The real hole, then (and to some extent, now) was at center."
"If this trade was floated back in November, when Simons was barely clinging to a rotation spot, it actually makes some sense. And honestly, I'd commend the Bulls' front office for aiming that high. Boston would've gotten a legitimate big man still putting up starter-level production at age 35, plus some salary relief by season's end. From that lens? The ask wasn't crazy at all."
The Chicago Bulls proposed trading Nikola Vučević to the Boston Celtics in exchange for Anfernee Simons and a first-round pick, and the Celtics declined. Anfernee Simons joined the Celtics as a salary-maneuver offseason addition intended to avoid the second apron, while the Celtics already featured a guard-heavy rotation including Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, and Jaylen Brown. The Celtics retained a clear need at center that Vučević could have addressed. The timing of the offer changes its logic; an earlier proposal would have aligned with Boston’s roster structure, whereas a later ask appeared less attractive given Simons’ improved production.
Read at Bleacher Nation
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