After months of speculation, the Boston Celtics have finally flipped Anfernee Simons and his expiring contract for a center. The Celtics ultimately opted to bring Nikola Vucevic to Boston, which has been met with an immediately divided response.
Though Vucevic has his flaws as a player, the bare minimum that Boston achieved is upgrading the offensive quality at center.
Luka Garza and Neemias Queta have done an excellent job of plugging holes for the Celtics in 2025-26. Queta has thrived on the defensive end of the floor, while Garza has created balance with his well-rounded offensive skill set.
In a swap that saw the Celtics trade an offensive-minded guard in Simons for a like-minded center in Vucevic, the Celtics effectively brought in an upgrade over Garza.
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
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 3, 2026
Assuming head coach Joe Mazzulla can find the right role and amount of playing time for Vucevic, this is at least an on-paper improvement to the roster.
Nikola Vucevic offers high-volume brand of what Luka Garza gives Celtics
Garza, 27, is currently averaging 7.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.5 offensive boards, 1.1 assists, and 0.7 three-point field goals made in 16.6 minutes per game. He's done so with remarkable efficiency, posting a slash line of .586/.441/.800.
Though Vucevic isn't quite as efficient as Garza, he effectively offers a similar skill set with the ability to produce with more volume despite receiving more attention from opposing defenders.
Vucevic is currently averaging 16.9 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.1 offensive boards, 3.8 assists, and 1.7 three-point field goals made in 30.8 minutes per game. He's done so with impressive efficiency, shooting at a clip of .505/.376/.838.
If Vucevic can simply sustain his production as a scorer, shooter, rebounder, and playmaker, he can provide positive value on the offensive end of the floor.
Nikola Vucevic can draw in defenders and diversify Celtics' offense
For as similar as Garza and Vucevic are on the surface, they command different levels of attention. For perspective: Vucevic ranks in the 63rd percentile in overall gravity compared to Garza in the 11th percentile, per Basketball Index.
Vucevic is also one of the best pick-and-roll finishers in the NBA, ranking No. 2 behind Joel Embiid in points as the pick-and-roll dive man per game.
Furthermore, Vucevic is shooting 39.3 percent on threes from above the break. That makes him even more valuable as a teammate to the likes of Jaylen Brown, Payton Pritchard, and Derrick White, as he can get into the teeth of a defense or fade out to the perimeter via flare screens for open looks.
There are, of course, questions about the level of defensive consistency that Vucevic can achieve, but his offensive arsenal makes him an upgrade at center the Celtics needed to make.