Frankly, the start of Nikola Vucevic's tenure with the Boston Celtics has been a see-saw ride. It has been a mix of stellar stretches and underwhelming shifts. However, that shouldn't come as a surprise or warrant an overreaction. Even for a savvy veteran, it is important to give him grace and respect the challenging nature of this transition.
As Sam Cassell told this author during the All-Star break about getting Vucevic up to speed in Boston and the team's outlook on their new center, "You get used to playing with guys, and it's hard. People don't understand how hard it is sometimes. You get traded to a team that's pretty good and has a system already intact, and you have got to pick that up. So, you're always going to feel like you're a step or two behind," voiced the Celtics' assistant coach and former All-NBA guard.
"I've been there before, but we got 20-plus games left, and he'll be fine. He'll be fine. He'll get his groove with us, and we'll see what happens. We're looking forward to it."
It was a move made with multiple motives in mind. One, it brought needed stability to the center position. Before acquiring Vucevic, Boston was vulnerable and ill-equipped to overcome if it lost Neemias Queta or Luka Garza to injury.
Now, there's more balance across the depth chart. If Jayson Tatum returns to help with this year's title pursuit, that advantage will increase.
Secondly, Vucevic is a floor-spacing five. He's an excellent passer, and he gives this offense a new dynamic with his ability to draw multiple defenders in the low post. As Brad Stevens said a day after the trade deadline, he is a terrific fit in this system.
"Nikola is a good player. He's been a good player for a long time. Obviously, the shooting and scoring gets a lot of attention. The passing, as you mentioned, is a big factor for us, and it's something that we really like in bigs. And so, gives us, probably, another look," stated Stevens.
The third layer to trading Anfernee Simons to acquire the former Chicago Bulls center was that it positioned the franchise to get underneath the luxury tax. That is a significant accomplishment that will benefit future iterations of this team. If the organization remains below the luxury tax next season, it will reset the repeater tax. That would be a massive feat. It would make it much easier to take another aggressive swing to add a high-end complementary player to flank Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
Neemias Queta's message about Nikola Vucevic
The 15th-year center is quickly building a bond with his younger teammate at the same position. Queta shared after the Celtics' 97-81 victory vs. the Phoenix Suns that he is making a concerted effort to learn as much as possible from Vucevic.
Neemias Queta on Nikola Vucevic:
— Bobby Krivitsky (@BobbyKrivitsky) February 25, 2026
“He’s been huge. Trying to pick his brain every day. Trying to figure out how I can better my game…He’s gonna be key for us later on in the season.” pic.twitter.com/RBneepMOKM
"He's been huge. Trying to pick his brain every day. I'm trying to figure out how I can better my game as well," conveyed Queta.
As for what the fifth-year center, who just eclipsed 2,000 career minutes this season, goes to his new teammate for advice on:
"Just being able to seal guys off. How he can be such a threat down low? How he can just make quick moves down there in the paint and post? How much more effective can I be? Just picking his brain on anything," expressed Queta.
Vucevic finished Tuesday's win with eight points, four rebounds, and a block. He could have scored even more, but there were times when his teammates didn't deliver the entry pass to him when he sealed off his defender, who was often undersized, down low.
It highlights that the two sides are still in the process of getting acclimated. Even with the initial growing pains, Queta likes what he is seeing from the two-time All-Star.
"For the team, I think he's just been a great, great addition. Like, in terms of spacing the floor, being able to be a threat down low. He's gonna rebound for sure, too. So, he's gonna be key for us later on in the season," voiced Queta.
"And we're still trying to figure out a couple [of] things with him, and how to get him in his best spots, and he's trying to get loose, too. He's trying to not be that passive, and that will be key for us when he's being more aggressive and making teams decide what they have to do with him, and we'll be in a better spot. So, we're in a transition period, and I think we're doing a good job implementing him in."
At some point, Vucevic, a high-IQ veteran, will become far more comfortable with his new team. That figures to become most advantageous at the time of year it will matter the most for the Celtics.