Bulls trade Nikola Vučević to Celtics for Anfernee Simons: What the deal means for fantasy basketball
The Chicago Bulls have been busy this trade season and the latest casualty before the deadline was big man Nikola Vučević, who was sent to the Boston Celtics in a deal for guard Anfernee Simons on Tuesday afternoon, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. The teams also exchanged second-round picks in the trade, which was the second deal Chicago made on Tuesday.
Vučević, 35, was in the final year of his roughly $21 million contract. Simons, 26, also has an expiring contract worth $27.6 million. Chicago had previously dealt Kevin Huerter and Dario Sărić to the Pistons as part of a three-team deal with the Timberwolves earlier in the day. The Bulls picked up guards Mike Conley Jr. and Jaden Ivey in the process.
Announcement
Below, Yahoo fantasy basketball analyst Dan Titus will provide his reaction to the trade with analysis for key players.
Impact of fantasy basketball
Nikola Vučević – PF/C, Boston Celtics
The Celtics beefing up their frontcourt with Vuče is a good basketball move in real life that will likely still translate well in fantasy. I don’t expect Vuče to play 30 minutes a night with a big capable backup like Neemias Queta present, but he will still be the preferred fantasy option between the two in the future. The Celtics get an efficient and consistent big man who can stretch the floor and still be a capable rebounder. I don’t foresee too much of a decline when it comes to his fantasy production in points or 9-cat leagues. Queta, on the other hand, becomes purgeable in 10 seconds and a wait, wait and see in 12 seconds.
Announcement
Jalen Smith – PF/C, Chicago Bulls
An early winner at the trade deadline, those who stashed Smith are thrilled to hear that Vuče is on his way to Beantown. Smith was already operating at an increased capacity, starting alongside Vuče in six of his last seven games before suffering a calf injury. With Zach Collins out, Smith now has a stronghold on Chicago’s center minutes. He’s provided near top-100 value over the last two weeks, but if the Bulls don’t add any more pieces to the frontcourt, I’d say he’d be at least a top-60 player in all formats.