The Boston Celtics have acquired center Nikola Vucevic in a trade with the Chicago Bulls, sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania, adding some much-needed help to their frontcourt.
Boston will trade guard Anfernee Simons and a second-round draft pick to Chicago, sources told Charania.
The 6-foot-9 Vucevic figures to fill a major need at center for the Celtics, who have primarily used unproven youngsters Neemias Queta and Luka Garza at center this season.
The Celtics (31-18), led by their star backcourt trio of Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and Payton Pritchard, entered Tuesday tied with the New York Knicks for the second-best record in the Eastern Conference.
Vucevic, 35, is averaging 16.9 points and 9.0 rebounds in 48 games this season, his fifth with the Bulls.
It was the second trade completed Tuesday by the Bulls, who also dealt Kevin Huerter to the Detroit Pistons in a three-team trade involving the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Simons, 26, averaged 14.2 points per game as a bench player for Boston this season.
