At first glance, the Celtics’ trade of Anfernee Simons and an early 2nd rounder for Nikola Vucevic and a late 2nd rounder was a bit of a head scratcher. It seemed like the Celtics’ center duo of Neemias Queta and Luka Garza had played well enough that the team didn’t need to trade for a center. And it seemed like Simons had played his way into fans’ hearts and was here to stay.
So, straying from that thought process to pay some solid draft capital to dump Simons’ salary for a 35-year-old center who has been a defensive liability wasn’t the most exciting move for a team that’s 33-18, and tied for the second-best record in the Eastern Conference.
But as some of the dust settles, and we start to talk ourselves into the deal from a basketball sense, it’s important to remember how good Brad Stevens is at his job. And as Brian Windhorst pointed out on the February 4th episode of the Hoop Collective, the Celtics’ pro scouting department has had an impeccable eye for identifying untapped potential around the league that fits well in Boston’s system.
Brad Stevens’ targets usually work out well in Boston
Just think of some of the moves since Brad Stevens took over as President of Basketball Operations. Immediately upon taking over, he went and got Al Horford back, knowing how badly the team missed him.
From there, it has been one masterpiece after another, identifying guys like Derrick White, Malcolm Brogdon, Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, Luka Garza, Neemias Queta, and even Anfernee Simons.
Throughout his tenure, almost every player that Stevens has brought to Boston has improved. This organization is so cohesive, and they know exactly what kinds of players they want to plug in. They go out and get them, and those players generally thrive.
That’s what should have Celtics fans most excited about Vucevic. The fact that the Celtics wanted him.
I’ve never been the biggest fan of Vooch, and I’ve pushed back against the idea of adding him for years. When I saw this trade, I couldn’t say that I was excited. But within moments, I had reminded myself that Brad and his staff know what they’re doing a lot better than I do, and I’m happy to watch them prove that yet again.
Vooch is obviously a talented player despite his shortcomings. The Cletics have made a living getting the most out of players by accentuating their strengths while covering up their weaknesses. There’s no reason to think they won’t be able to do that with Vucevic, and if that’s the case, there’s no reason to think that Stevens hasn’t struck gold yet again.