The Nikola Vucevic trade was a worthy endeavor for the Celtics. If they wanted to be serious about winning a title while also getting under the luxury tax, they had to upgrade the frontcourt while reducing salary. On the surface, swapping Anfernee Simons for Vooch was the best way to try to accomplish both goals.
The Cs did ultimately squeak under the luxury tax by season’s end, and Vooch did become a real part of the big-man rotation, but at the end of the day, it was clearly not enough.
Boston struggled to find any consistency from its center trio in the series loss to the 76ers, and by Game 7, Vucevic had been played off the floor in favor of Neemias Queta, Luka Garza, and small-ball lineups with Jaylen Brown at the 5. It was the right decision, and frankly, it took too long for Joe Mazzulla to realize what most could plainly see: Vucevic is washed.
The trade was a fine gamble, and there were a few flashes from Vooch, but he’s just too old and slow to have a positive impact in a playoff series. But the biggest silver lining from the Vucci Mane era is that it’s over. And with its ending, the Celtics get $21.5 million coming off their books as Vooch becomes a free agent.
Anything more than a minimum deal for Vooch would be an overpay
With the Vucevic contract expiring, the Celtics should be around $20 million clear of the luxury tax going into next season. There’s a real chance they can make some meaningful additions to the team, while staying under the tax again, resetting the repeater tax, and giving them a better shot at making all-in moves next summer.
Depending on other moves, the Celtics may be able to use all of the midlevel exception, some of the Anfernee Simons traded player exception, use their first-round pick, plus add some minimum free agents, while accomplishing important financial goals at the same time.
If Vucevic wants to be one of those veteran minimums, that’s a conversation that can be had, but anything more should be out of the question. The Celtics are better off moving on with Queta and Garza and figuring it out from there. Vooch isn’t getting any younger, and unless he wants to be an end-of-the-bench leader, he’s better off going elsewhere.
The Celtics will still need to address the center position going forward, but Vooch is clearly not hte solution. They should thank him for his service and send him on his way, gleefully using his soon-to-be freed-up money to go out and make the team better.
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