Dear James Harden, from the night you got traded here it’s been an absolute honor to witness you play on this team. Never sat out any games, never complained, gave it 100%. I appreciate everything you’ve done for this team. Thank You and Good luck in Cleveland GOAT 😭😭🙏🏾🙏🏾❤️❤️1️⃣ pic.twitter.com/5nvRh8VuyL
The Pistons have traded Jaden Ivey to the Chcago Bulls, marking the end of his turbulent yet hopefilled time in Detroit. Wes jumps in the studio to quickly break down what you need to know about the move. What are the details? Why would the Pistons do this? And how might Kevin Huerter fit?
We’ve got you covered for all this and more in this week’s episode!
Want to hear your voice on the Pindown? Call (313) 355-2717 and leave your question as a voicemail! The guys will play your message and answer your question on that week’s episode! All we ask is that you keep your questions to under 45 seconds.
Less than 24 hours after rumors surfaced that the Cavaliers and Clippers were discussing trade possibilities for James Harden, the two sides have reportedly worked out a deal. Harden, whose contract for the 2026-27 season will be partially guaranteed if he opts in, heads back to the Eastern Conference in exchange for Darius Garland and a future second-round pick.
BREAKING: The Los Angeles Clippers are finalizing a trade to send 11x All-Star James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers for 2x All-Star Darius Garland, league sources told myself and @TomerAzarly.
Harden will join his fifth different team in the last six seasons.
Harden pairs up with Donovan Mitchell, giving the Cavaliers another healthy playmaker to help lighten Spida's workload. As for the Clippers, they receive a draft pick and a point guard in Garland, who is ten years younger than Harden. However, he's been dealing with foot injuries for the last two seasons and is currently out with a right big toe injury. Let's take a look at the trade details and how this transaction affects fantasy basketball.
While availability has been an issue for Garland this season, it has not been for Harden. Outside of the last two games, which he missed for personal reasons while his future was being worked out, he only missed three games. In 44 appearances, Harden averaged 25.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 8.1 assists, 1.3 steals and 3.1 three-pointers in 35.4 minutes, shooting 41.9 percent from the field and 90.1 percent from the foul line. Playing alongside Mitchell may decrease the usage percentages of both players, but not by much.
While there shouldn't be any concerns regarding how this trade affects Mitchell's fantasy value, it's fair for fantasy managers who have Evan Mobley (currently out due to a strained calf), Jarrett Allen and Jaylon Tyson to have questions.
In the past, Harden has developed excellent on-court chemistry with bigs who can roll to the basket and finish above the rim. In the short term, Allen, who scored a career-high 40 points on Sunday, may benefit from being able to run the two-man game with Harden. Mobley's a skilled big man who has the tools to be a highly effective option, but the question is what the spacing will look like when he and Allen are on the floor alongside Harden. Tyson's value may take a hit due to the decreased usage with another healthy playmaker on the floor, but not to the point where managers should consider moving on.
Clippers receive:
Darius Garland
Future second-round pick
Due to a right great toe injury, Garland has not appeared in a game since January 14. And with the guard limited to some individual work during his final practice as a Cavalier on Tuesday, it will likely be a while before we see him in a Clippers uniform. And before the most recent foot injury, Garland's fantasy value languished this season. The potential for him to be a key figure for the Clippers is certainly there, but they need to get Garland healthy first.
In the interim, the Clippers will continue to lean on Kris Dunn at point guard, with Kobe Sanders remaining in the starting lineup. While they take on bigger roles than they did when the Clippers' rotation was whole, neither player is a must-add.
Kawhi Leonard, named an All-Star on Tuesday, will continue to shoulder a heavy workload offensively. His fantasy value is already sky-high. Ivica Zubac had excellent chemistry with Harden, and he'll need to develop something similar with Garland once the point guard gets healthy. If so, the 7-footer's fantasy value should be fine.
With the Clippers' 2026 first-round pick going to Oklahoma City, there's no incentive for the franchise to pull the plug on this season, especially since they're currently in a play-in spot.
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 18: Darius Garland #10 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket against James Harden #1 of the Los Angeles Clippers during the second quarter at Intuit Dome on March 18, 2025 in Inglewood, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Opinions are justifiably divided on this trade. It’s reasonable to love or hate this move. What side you come down on is largely based on perspective.
If you’re Koby Altman, putting together the best team for 2026 seems to be the main priority. Given the state of the Eastern Conference, this season is his best shot at winning a title with a team he completely constructed.
Additionally, there’s the pressure that comes with creating the most expensive team in the league. Altman’s job may not be on the line, but the group he painstakingly built needs to make meaningful strides forward in the playoffs. There wouldn’t be any excuses for this team falling short in Donovan Mitchell’s fourth year with the team.
Speaking of Mitchell, the added weight of his upcoming free agency looms large in moves like this. He’d be justified in looking elsewhere this summer if he felt this team wasn’t able to compete at the highest level. And if he sacrificed four of his prime years with the doomed core four experiment, it’d be easy to justify exploring other options.
From Altman’s perspective, this season is likely all that matters. This team needs a point guard to pair alongside Mitchell. And if the one you currently have on the roster has injury concerns that would lead you to believe he will not be 100% in the playoffs, trading him for a clear upgrade is a massive win.
And make no mistake about it, Harden is a clear upgrade from the version of Garland we’ve seen this season.
Harden — even at 36 — is still playing at an elite level. He’s in the 88th percentile for points per shot attempt, 79th percentile for assist percentage, and 91st percentile for drawing shooting fouls. This is a dynamic scorer who can both handle double teams well and keep opponents from doubling Mitchell. Both are things that Garland hasn’t excelled at.
Any concerns about Harden’s playoff performance and ability to fit with Mitchell could be leveled at Garland as well. But at least with Harden, you’re banking on the guy who’s been the better and more proven player this season.
If you viewed this trade through the prism of this season being the only one that matters — which could be the one Altman is forced to view this — then this is a home run deal.
Anything bought from the links helps support Fear the Sword. You can also shop all of Homage’s Cavs gear HERE. The link to the new City Edition shirt can be found HERE.
That said, it’s wrong for everyone else to view moves the way front office executives do. Fans aren’t motivated to make deals because of job security. And the diehards that read blogs like this will still love the team whether they’re winning 20 or 60 games.
If you’re emotionally invested, it’s more fun to watch a team built organically. The Cavs were doing that. They made a splashy move for Mitchell, but that was only done because of the homegrown talent that was already in place.
We’ve seen Garland grow. He went from looking like a kid cosplaying as Luke Skywalker on draft night seven years ago to blossoming into one of the most fun point guards to watch. We followed along through Garland’s terrible rookie season in 2020 to being an All-Star two years later when the game was hosted in Cleveland. He then persevered through a difficult following season, only to have the best year of his career right after.
As a sports fan, the journey is often the destination. Being able to go on this ride with Garland with the hopes that it could eventually lead to a championship is the dream. And now, we’re robbed of knowing whether or not that was ever a possibility. That sucks.
There’s joy in watching your team compete for titles, but it’s not as much fun to root for mercenaries, and Harden is the ultimate basketball mercenary.
The uncertainty about the future is also concerning as a fan. It’s okay to sacrifice long-term stability for what could be an instant reward, but what does this look like in 2028 if things go poorly for the next two seasons? There isn’t a lot for the Cavs to securely hang their hat on. We know what it looks like for a team like the Brooklyn Nets, who’ve made similar short-term deals and been burned in the long run.
As a fan, you want your favorite hobby of watching a competitive basketball team to always be there during long winter nights. And even if it never brings a title, there’s worse ways to spend time than watching a team built around Garland and Evan Mobley. Now, that security is gone.
So what is the proper grade for this trade? I’m not sure if I can come up with one. I tend to view things more shortsightedly. If a move gives you a better chance to win this season, I’m almost always going to take it. That, however, doesn’t mean it’s the right way to view things.
From that perspective, the Cavs accomplished their goal. I doubted that this core could win a title. They’ve now created a path to do so and are in a position to make more win-now moves before Thursday’s deadline and in the offseason. But that move comes at a cost. And the cost is felt most by the fans.
We’ll have to wait until this spring to see if the move paid off. For now, I’m stuck giving it a half-hearted B-.
AMHERST, N.Y. (AP) — Luke Skaljac scored a career-high 19 points and No. 23 Miami (Ohio) held on for a 73-71 victory over Buffalo on Tuesday night, extending the longest winning streak in Mid-American Conference history to 23 games.
Brant Byers added 11 points for the RedHawks (23-0, 11-0), and Peter Suder had 10 points, eight assists and five rebounds.
Miami and Arizona (22-0) remain the only unbeaten teams in Division I.
Angelo Brizzi scored 22 points and Daniel Freitag had 18 to lead Buffalo (14-9, 4-7). The Bulls have lost seven of eight games following a 13-2 start that was the second-best in the program’s Division I history.
Noah Batchelor’s 3-pointer got Buffalo within 73-71 with 11 seconds remaining. Skaljac missed two free throws in the final 16 seconds, including the front end of one-and-one after Batchelor’s basket, but Ryan Sabol’s fallaway 3-point attempt at the buzzer bounced off the front of the rim.
Miami’s 73 points were a season low. The RedHawks entered the game leading the country in averaging 93.7 points.
The Bulls tied the score three times with less than seven minutes remaining before Miami took command with a 6-0 run, holding Buffalo scoreless over a 3:49 span.
Miami led 38-35 at halftime after a back-and-forth period with nine lead changes and four ties.
This was the second close game between these teams this season. The RedHawks beat the Bulls 105-102 in overtime on Jan. 17
Miami’s ranking is its highest since being No. 22 in November 1998. They are the first MAC team ranked since Buffalo finished the 2018-19 season at No. 15.
Up next
Miami (Ohio): At Marshall on Saturday in the MAC-Sun Belt Challenge.
Hunter, 28, was acquired in the trade to be a potential piece for the Kings' future as general manger Scott Perry retools the roster with aspirations of establishing a winning culture.
Hunter, who will make $23.3 million this season as part of a four-year $90 million rookie contract extension he signed with the Hawks in 2022, expressed his excitement to get going in Sacramento and becoming acclimated with his new team.
"It's good energy here," Hunter told reporters after his first Kings practice. "A lot of great coaches that have a lot of experience in the league. Very experienced players who have been here in the league for a while, I'm just excited for a new opportunity."
Hunter, a 6-foot-7, 221-pound swingman, is averaging 14 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 26.2 minutes per game so far during the 2025-26 regular-season.
Through 43 games, Hunter has shot the ball at a 42.3% rate on field goals. He shoots 30.8% from deep and is a solid free throw shooter at 86.9%.
Defensively, he averages 0.7 blocks and 0.1 steals per game.
Hunter told USA TODAY Sports what he intends to bring to the Kings as he becomes engulfed in the basketball culture in Sacramento.
"Just versatility, on both ends," Hunter said. "A guy that plays hard, a guy that's gong to do what the team needs. I feel like that's kind of what everyone says but night in, night out I'm going to give my best effort."
Hunter's versatility will allow the Kings to play him at the three (small forward) or experiment playing him at the four (power forward).
For Hunter, it's nothing new.
"I don't think there's much difference in the league right now," he said. "A lot the threes play four when guys go small, teams go small. I don't see much of a difference, but I'm very comfortable playing both, I've been doing it for the past four or five years. It's not really difficult to adjust to."
He's most likely going to play alongside Kings forward Keegan Murray.
The team announced Tuesday that Murray is progressing in his rehabilitation of a moderate left ankle sprain he suffered in their loss against the Milwaukee Bucks on Jan. 4.
"Murray has been approved for on-court contact activities. He will be reevaluated in two weeks," the Kings said in a news release.
Hunter anticipates playing with Murray because their abilities to do some of the same things on the floor.
"Playing with a guy like Keegan, he's another versatile guy who can defend, who can shoot, who can score. I think it'll be fun," Hunter said. "Definitely (exciting). Like I said, he's another guy with size, another guy that guard one through four. As a guy that could do that, it's always good to see another dude on the court that can help you out when you're a little tired."
Kings head coach Doug Christie was all smiles when discussing the acquisition of Hunter.
"Super excited man," Christie told reporters. "The weather didn't allow us to practice on the road, but got up and down a little bit. Watching him on the defensive end makes me smile. Elite length, athleticism, knowing that he can stretch the floor and shoot the three-ball, has midrange, like just a really, really good player. A smart player, very heady, as far as the communication. We'll get him in a game, [I'm] excited to see him get out there."
Christie, too, envisions a lineup that will feature both Hunter and Murray, when he's back from injury. When asked about the possibility, he grinned from cheek-to-cheek.
"Both of their size and athleticism allows you to you to guard across the board," Christie said. "They can switch if there's a matchup that you like more. But definitely, his size and his ability to guard can keep Keegan at the three."
He added: "I'm just excited to see them. When you think about it, you have two long wings, both of them can shoot the basketball, both of them can guard pretty much one through five, rebounding, cutting, midrange and they both play the right way, for the right reasons. They are team players. They're going to move the basketball, move their body when we talk about next actions, when we talk about crashing [for rebounds] all of the little things that equate to winning, both of them do so really excited to see them out there together."
Hunter said that he hadn't had many interactions with Perry, Kings general manager, but was told by Perry that he had him on his radar for many years and that Perry "sees potential" in him.
"He knows a few people that I know. I heard through the grapevine what kind of guy he is and vice versa. I think that played a huge part in me coming here. I'm excited to get to know the guys and get acclimated to the city," Hunter said. "It was more so just talking about how he previously wanted me. In previous years but we at a different team so he couldn't make it happen but he was just really glad that he could make this happen. He sees potential in me, he knows the things I can do, just looking to do that."
Hunter is ready to work and provide a spark for Kings basketball. No one is asking more of Hunter than himself.
"I have my own expectations," he said. "I feel like my own expectations are higher than what anyone else expects of me. I just try to hold myself to a standard."
As far his new city and getting used to his surroundings, Hunter looks forward to seeing what Sacramento has to offer.
"I never did much here honestly, so I don't really know about the city," Hunter said about his knowledge of Sacramento as a visiting player. "I usually stay in the hotel because we usually come here on a long west coast trip. I'm excited to get out there and probably get some recommendations from some people on what to do and where to eat and stuff."
Anfernee Simons dribbles the ball during a game against the Hawks. | NBAE via Getty Images
The brief but captivating Anfernee Simons era in Boston has reportedly come to an end.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Celtics are trading Simons and a second-round pick to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for veteran big man Nikola Vucevic and a second-round pick.
At its core, this move is more so about roster balance than anything else. The Celtics arguably had an abundance of guards and arguably had a shortage of post players, so swapping Simons for Vucevic is logical through that lens.
BREAKING: The Chicago Bulls are trading center Nikola Vucevic and a second-round pick to the Boston Celtics for Anfernee Simons and a second-round pick, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/aScaobfZmv
Through another, it’s a debatable move, as Simons had really found a home and was playing some of the best basketball of his career. He’s also 26 and entering his prime, whereas Vucevic is 35 and may not have too many productive years in front of him.
This is one of those trades where you could really argue either way, and I’d be like, “Yeah, you’re right.”
With that in mind, here are five immediate thoughts on the news:
1. Anfernee Simons will be missed.
Simons is a heck of a player who really made the most of his opportunity in Boston. It would have been fun to see him continue to evolve over the next few seasons, but it always felt like this would be a short-term situation.
He deserves a lot of credit for improving his defense, igniting the Celtics on plenty of runs and embracing his role as a reserve. While the move certainly has its benefits, this playoff run won’t be the same without him.
HIGHEST CAREER SCORING AVG BY A CELTIC, 50 OR LESS GAMES 20.6 Bob McAdoo, 20 GP, 1978-79 19.4 Ed Sadowski, 47 GP, 1947-48 14.4 Dennis Schroder, 49 GP, 2021-22 14.2 ANFERNEE SIMONS, 49 GP, 2025-26 13.9 Billy Knight, 40 GP, 1978-79 13.0 Evan Fournier, 16 GP, 2020-21
The Celtics wouldn’t have traded Simons for just anyone. I’ve always loved Vucevic’s game. He’s a modern 5 who can score inside and out and should fit in well with the Celtics’ current core. I expect him to adapt seamlessly and look like he’s been here all along within a few weeks.
While he may be a bit past his prime, he’s still averaging 16.9 points, 9 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game. He’s known for his scoring, but his passing also shouldn’t be slept on and will make life easier for his teammates in Boston.
3. It should make Boston slightly better.
This move is an indicator that Brad Stevens believes the Celtics are capable of contending, and yes, it may be a sign that Jayson Tatum could return. That’s just speculation, but it’s a fair conclusion to jump to given all the variables at play.
I personally don’t think this move makes them significantly better or worse, but I probably would have done it myself. Vucevic fills a need and is a proven vet who will complement Neemias Queta well. I also wouldn’t be opposed to a double-big lineup of Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Vucevic and Queta in crunch time. He’s the kind of guy that will only help you, not hurt you, so it’s a very safe pickup from that perspective.
It will be interesting to see how Joe Mazzulla incorporates Vucevic. Will his long-term NBA clout immediately vault him into a starting role, or will Mazzulla elect to keep Queta as the starter and bring Vucevic off the bench? It’s very possible he’ll start, but bringing Simons off the bench worked well, so it’s also possible that will happen again here.
Will it also signal the end of Luka Garza, Xavier Tillman or Amari Williams’ time in Boston? I wouldn’t expect the Celtics to trade Queta, but anything is possible when Stevens gets rolling. Queta deserves a lot of credit for the strides he’s made, and I personally would keep him on the roster as long as possible.
5. Matching up in the East
One thing we’ve learned so far this season is that physical teams like the Pistons and Rockets tend to give the Celtics problems. It wasn’t really their fault. The roster wasn’t constructed to fight fire with fire in the paint. Now, the Celtics have more low-post scoring and rim protection.
At the same time, calling Vucevic a great defender would be a bit of a stretch. Can he match up with someone like Jalen Duren or Jarrett Allen in a playoff series and hold his own? Time will tell, but it’s ultimately a move worth making given the fit and the void he fills.
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Bryce James, youngest son of NBA star LeBron James, is going to redshirt his freshman year at Arizona.
James has yet to appear in a game for the top-ranked Wildcats this season and coach Tommy Lloyd confirmed on Tuesday the 6-foot-5 guard will redshirt.
“The redshirting decision was just a long play, to give Bryce the most options in his career as his career unfolds,” Lloyd told the Big 12 Network. “I have real strong belief that Bryce will be a contributor at Arizona in the near future. He’s really shown a lot of progress, not only learning our system but just physically maturing.”
James arrived at Arizona as part of a heralded freshman class headlined by Koat Peat and Brayden Burries. The Wildcats (22-0) are off to the best start in program history, so Lloyd and his staff have been able to take their time in developing James, whose older brother, Bronny, plays with their father for the Los Angeles Lakers.
MARSEILLE, France (AP) — Marseille avoided plunging into crisis by defeating Rennes 3-0 on Tuesday to move into the French Cup quarterfinals.
The southern club had no room for mistake after exiting the Champions League last week with a 3-0 loss at Club Brugge. It was an embarrassing defeat that was followed by a 2-2 draw at Paris FC in Ligue 1 on Saturday after Roberto De Zerbi's players threw away a two-goal lead.
Marseille needed just two minutes to break the deadlock against Rennes when Amine Gouiri scored from close range against his former club, after excellent work from Timothy Weah to recover the ball in the box.
Gouiri then turned provider to set up Mason Greenwood in the 46th minute, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang sealing the win on the break with seven minutes left.
Marseille recruit Ethan Nwaneri was lucky to escape a red card after an awful tackle near the hour-mark on Glen Kamara, who was forced off.
Reims also progressed to the quarterfinals with a 3-0 defeat of Le Mans.
Marseille’s 3-0 loss at Club Brugge on Wednesday, coupled with Benfica’s remarkable injury-time goal against Real Madrid, sent De Zerbi’s side into 25th place in the Champions League table and out of the competition.
Marseille, which won the Champions League in 1993, is third in the French league, nine points behind leader Paris-Saint-Germain. The bitter rivals face off this weekend in Paris in “Le Classique."
LEVERKUSEN, Germany (AP) — Bayer Leverkusen reached the German Cup semifinals for the third straight season after beating St. Pauli 3-0 on Tuesday.
Martin Terrier scored from the edge of the area in the 32nd minute, Patrik Schick volleyed home at the back post to double the lead in the 63rd and Jonas Hofmann added a third following a counterattack in stoppage time.
Leverkusen won the cup in the 2023-24 season as part of its undefeated domestic campaign, and lost in the semifinals last season.
Defending champion Stuttgart visits second-tier Holstein Kiel in the second quarterfinal on Wednesday.
The other two are next week: Second-tier Hertha Berlin vs. Freiburg and Bayern Munich vs. Leipzig.
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 18: Darius Garland #10 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on during the third quarter against the Los Angeles Clippers at Intuit Dome on March 18, 2025 in Inglewood, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The aggregation never ends, does it? The Cleveland Cavaliers and LA Clippers have been linked in trade rumors for the past 15-ish hours. And while nothing has happened yet, the momentum continues to grow per reports.
ESPN’S Brian Windhorst offered the latest update on NBA Today:
“People I’m talking to, there is real momentum for this,” Windhorst said. “Darius Garland is getting in his head that he’s going to be a Clipper. James Harden is getting in his head that he’s gonna be a Cav.”
There are always plenty of smoke screens to navigate during the NBA trade deadline. But when there is this much smoke, it’s hard to ignore. The likelihood of Garland and Harden swapping cities is feeling more certain by the minute. And apparently, even the players themselves are preparing for a new chapter.
For Harden, this is nothing he hasn’t seen before. He’s asked for a trade four times in five years, going from the Houston Rockets, to the Brooklyn Nets, to the Philadelphia 76ers, to the LA Clippers, and now, possibly to the Cavs. The 11-time All-Star has forced his way out of multiple franchises and is comfortable being uncomfortable.
But for Garland, this is uncharted territory. Garland has played all seven seasons of his career in Cleveland. He’s been floated in trade rumors before, but he’s never actually been put under the spotlight to this degree. A trade would mark a first for Garland — but even if nothing happens, this could have huge ramifications for Garland’s future in the Land.
This entire ordeal has been out there for the world to see. Garland now knows that his front office has dangled him in serious trade offers while presumably getting the approval of Donovan Mitchell. That’s a tough pill to swallow, even for the most professional NBA player.
All of that makes it feel like this trade is a done deal. Because turning back now seems just as daunting as going through with this massive swing.
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 30: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates after a play against the Washington Wizards during the first half at Capital One Arena on January 30, 2026 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Luka Dončić has been justly rewarded for a dominant month.
The NBA’s leading scorer has started 2026 right where he left off in 2025, averaging 34 points, 7.2 rebounds and 9.1 assists. Rightly so on Monday, Luka was named Player of the Month for the Western Conference.
This is the sixth time Luka has been named Player of the Month, but the first time he’s done so as a Laker.
In January, Luka had some monster performances, including scoring 46 points in a win over the Bulls and registering a triple-double in the first half in a victory against the Wizards.
Dončić’s dominance is a big reason the Lakers were able to tread water in January. They ended the month with a 9-7 record while playing without their starting guard, Austin Reaves, who remained out with a calf strain.
While Luka’s play reached a high level in January, he’s been elite all season, making a case as the best player not just on the Lakers, or in the Western Conference, but the entire NBA.
NBA franchises, in the thick of trade season, are scrambling to make roster adjustments just before the Feb. 5, 3 p.m. ET (noon PT) deadline.
As teams search for ideal suitors and partners to green-light prospective trades, the Boston Celtics have beefed up their frontcourt after making a move to receive center Nikola Vucevic and a second-round draft pick from the Chicago Bulls in exchange for guard Anfernee Simons and a second-round pick, according to ESPN's Shams Charania.
Vucevic, who stands at 6-foot-9, 260-pounds, adds another big body to the Celtics' frontline. He joins a front court that includes Neemias Queta, Luka Garza, Sam Hauser, Xavier Tillman and Jordan Walsh.
Not only do they add another big, but they get someone who they can fill into their roster and will find his way. Vucevic can score in multiple ways.
Vucevic isn't a big who demands the ball, just knows what to do when gets it. He can score like a traditional big in the post, with his back to the basket. He has the capability to face up and shoot, or step back for three. If he's not getting the ball, he'll go and get an offensive rebound and putback.
Vucevic, 35, averaged 16.9 points, nine rebounds and 3.8 assists in 48 games played with the Bulls. He shot 50.5% from the field and showed an ability to stretch the floor, shooting 37.6% from the three-point arc.
Vucevic joins his fourth team in his 15 NBA seasons. He was drafted out of USC by the Philadelphia 76ers with the 16th overall pick of the first round of the 2011 NBA Draft. Vucevic played nine seasons with the Orlando Magic and the previous five seasons in Chicago before being traded to Boston on Tuesday, Feb. 3.
The Celtics (31-18) currently have the third-best record in the Eastern Conference and sit 5.5 games behind the Detroit Pistons atop of the list.
Nikola Vucevic contract details
Vucevic signed a three-year, $60 million veteran extension contract with the Bulls in 2023. He's in the final year of that deal and is owed $21.4 million. Vucevic becomes an unrestricted free agent in July.
Nikola Vucevic career stats
The Celtics add a guy who has averaged a double-double for the entirety of his career. Vucevic's career numbers include 17.2 points, 10.4 rebounds and 2.9 assists. From the field, he shoots at a 49.8% rate, including 35.1% from deep. He's a career 77.3% free throw shooter.
Simons, 26, is an eighth-year guard who was selected right out of high school, IMG Academy, with the 24th overall pick by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2018 NBA draft.
The 6-foot-3, 200-pound Simons has developed his game into becoming a formidable scorer who can light up a box score in spurts. His three-point shooting has stood out, as he connects on 39.5% of threes per game this season.
After years in Portland and playing behind the tutelage of Damian Lillard, Simons has grown to master his shot off the dribble, whether a side-step, step-back or snatch-back into his jumper.
Simons has proven that he's talented enough to be a starter in the NBA. As a starter for three seasons in Portland from 2022 to 2025, Simons averaged 20.7 points, 4.7 assists and 2.9 rebounds in 178 games during that span.
He's averaged 14.2 points on 44% field goal shooting and 39.5% on three-point field goals so far this season with the Celtics.
Simons goes from being a part of the third-best team in the East to a 24-26 Bulls team that is looking to make waves for a playoff push. They currently have the ninth-best record in the Eastern Conference, which would give them a play-in tournament berth.
Anfernee Simons contract details
Simons is in the final year of a four-year, $100 million contract he signed with Portland in 2022. He'll earn $27.6 million this season before becoming an unrestricted free agent in July.
Anfernee Simons career stats
Simons averages 14.9 points and 3.2 assists for his career. His shooting splits are 43.2% on field goals, 38.2% on three-point shots and 88.1% from the charity stripe.
Anfernee Simons highlights
Experts provide feedback, thoughts on trade
NBA experts and analysts broke down the Vucevic-Simons trade on ESPN following the news.
Former NBA guard and ESPN analyst Iman Shumpert:
"I love it. I'm a Josh Giddey guy. I like the way he plays. He has an array of moves and finishes that he likes to do and he's a slasher-type player. I like that (the Bulls) have a ball dominant guy now that doesn't mind holding on to the ball and waiting until the very end to get us something. And he's young Dame. I see his game and I see how much time they spent in the gym together. I think it's remarkable that he scores the ball in a similar way that Damian Lillard does. And that's all I feel I'm getting, when I get him. You see this one-dribble, pound-dribble to the step back, he's able to get in there and do the floaters, and he's got height on him. He doesn't have to use a lot of dribbles. But he doesn't mind. I think he's a willing passer. It's hard to find a willing passer in the NBA, and if you can get him the right pick and roll, he's a dangerous guy to bring to a team like that."
Los Angeles Sparks' forward and ESPN analyst Chiney Ogwumike:
"You said the word 'remarkable.' That's what I'm using to describe Boston this year. A lot of people thought this was going to be a gap year. It's turning out to be a very, very solid, a good year for Boston Celtics. They're third in the East. And now they get a big that is very important for them, especially if they're gonna go up and try to make some noise in the postseason. And with [Vucevic], he fits that [Joe] Mazzulla system. Y'all, that guy can shoot. He's shooting, I think, 37% from three. He's big and strong. He's not afraid. He doesn't really run away from physicality. Look at this right here. Knock down. Joe [Mazzulla] was like hmm, this could work for me. I can do something with this. This is a good step in the right direction for a team that we thought, 'oh, they were selling off pieces' A couple [years] after the championship, it was difficult after Jayson Tatum's injury. Now you built back in a way that I'm actually quite surprised at how quick the turnaround is."
NBA Front Office Insider Bobby Marks:
"Well, to get something, you got to give up something. I mean, Anfernee Simon's had been pretty good with with Boston, sixth man numbers here. There was a somewhat of a, I think, more of a void for the playoffs, because Neemias Queta has been pretty good, holding down the fort for Boston right now. But you get an established player and Nikola Vucevic. Double expiring contracts, so there's financial savings here. But I think this move is made for more for April and May, less for the rest of the regular-season."
ESPN reporter Brian Windhorst
"So this Tatum is a outlier, a major thing we don't know about. Vucevic is the type of player that Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis, they won a championship with it. Simons' was playing great. He just had a wild, incredible January. For Chicago, I assume they're making this trade because they intend to pay Anfernee Simons. Just as they made the trade for Jaden Ivey, they intend to pay him. This is again, 'pre-agency', and now he's going to open up 'pre-agency' for Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu, who was probably, I would say, almost certainly, both of them strongly going to be elsewhere by Thursday, if not by the end of today."
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 31: VJ Edgecombe #77 and Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers react against the New Orleans Pelicans in the fourth quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena on January 31, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Pelicans 124-114. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Perhaps I have just been stuck in a negative feedback loop when it comes to this franchise for the last half-dozen years, but I am bracing myself for a rather unspectacular NBA trade deadline for the Sixers. I can’t foresee a scenario where the Sixers part with beloved rookie VJ Edgecombe for superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, nor one where an Edgecombe-less package is enough to nab the two-time NBA MVP.
It goes beyond the Antetokounmpo of it all though, even as the Bucks’ franchise player remains the biggest domino to fall before the deadline.
Will the Sixers duck the tax in the hopes of saving the ownership group some dough? Joel Embiid called out the organization over it recently, a rarity for the star big man. The Paul George anti-drug policy suspension likely makes it easier for the team to do so, but the absence of George for 25 games creates a hole in this Sixers lineup that should be addressed if the team has true championship aspirations and wants to climb the Eastern Conference standings. They’re just 2.5 games back of the No. 2 seed entering Tuesday’s evening action. That should scream trade-a-palooza, right? For a fan base that’s seen those big swings like Jimmy Butler, Tobias Harris and James Harden mid-season in the past, I just have a gut feeling that come Thursday, this team is mostly the same.
I’m sure they’ll do something, minor moves that allow the team to convert key contributors Dominick Barlow and Jabari Walker to standard contracts, but something earth-shattering that upheaves the playoff picture looks out of the cards a bit.
The Sixers remain stuck between worlds. Embiid is the most-win now player in the league. Who knows how much healthy basketball he has left, but for the time being, he looks as good as ever. He averaged 30-8-5 in January. For all we know, this could be the last ride for Embiid. He certainly wasn’t in this form the previous few springs, if playing at all. Tyrese Maxey is in his prime now as a lighting-quick scorer, but it’s hard to calculate how anyone’s prime, let alone that of an undersized, speedy guard, will last. He’s the present and the future currently. Edgecombe, who the Sixers should be wary of parting with this early in his career, is already good, albeit not someone who can be a dominant playoff player at this point. That’s natural for a 20-year-old, but hard when the team doesn’t know what it’ll be getting from Embiid a year down the line. They’re competitive to a degree now, but also holding their chips for later.
I hope the team does something fun. Doesn’t everyone? The vibes are good and the fan base is energized. As long as they’re not dealing Edgecombe, go wild. This is what Daryl Morey was brought here to do, to be creative in the trade market, not simply to acquire former Rockets, as he’s done. Again, maybe I am just in a protective mode with this team where I don’t want to get my hopes up for anything, but I imagine this team’s going to look pretty similar come the weekend.
If that’s the case, I think it’ll be OK. The Sixers are “fun enough.” I’d like more than that, certainly, but after previous misses on stars and the desire not to move Edgecombe at this point, Sixers fans have roughly 48 hours to learn to be content with what they’re seeing.
Raphielle Johnson
