The Boston Celtics are shifting their focus toward a deep postseason run, fueled by the return of superstar Jayson Tatum. However, off the court, a significant chapter of the front office’s mid-season maneuvering has finally reached its mathematical conclusion. Following the NBA’s official draft tiebreak on Monday, the final price of the trade that brought center Nikola Vucevic back to Boston is now set in stone.
The Celtics will officially send the 38th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft to the Chicago Bulls. This pick completes the transaction that saw high-scoring guard Anfernee Simons depart for Chicago in exchange for the veteran big man.
The Anatomy of the Deal
At the time of the swap, Brad Stevens’ decision to move Simons was met with a degree of skepticism. Simons had established himself as one of the premier sixth men in the league, providing elite shooting and secondary ball-handling. Critics questioned the wisdom of a “salary dump” move involving a young asset, especially when paired with valuable draft capital.
However, the logic behind the deal has aged remarkably well. By offloading Simons, the Celtics:
- Removed a primary defensive liability from the backcourt.
- Solidified their interior rotation with Vucevic’s size and rebounding.
- Successfully navigated under the luxury tax apron.
- Balanced the roster to accommodate Jayson Tatum’s massive offensive usage upon his return.
The Draft Pick Lottery
The 2nd-round pick in question originally belonged to the New Orleans Pelicans. As the season progressed, the Pelicans’ late-season winning streak lowered the value of the asset. New Orleans finished with a 26-56 record, tying with the Dallas Mavericks for the seventh-worst record in the NBA.
In Monday’s tiebreak, the Pelicans won the draw for the 7th overall pick (which will go to Atlanta). Because the NBA flips the order for the second round in tiebreak scenarios, the Mavericks received the 37th pick, leaving the Pelicans—and subsequently the Celtics and Bulls—with the 38th pick.
A Strategic Win for Brad Stevens
Despite the initial “questionable” tag, the trade now looks like a masterclass in risk management. While the Celtics lost the 38th pick, they retained a 2026 second-rounder from the Milwaukee Bucks, which landed at 40th overall—just two spots lower.
Furthermore, the Celtics received a 2027 second-round pick from the Denver Nuggets as part of the deal. While that pick is expected to be late in the round given Denver’s championship-contending status, it remains an asset for future maneuvering.
With Vucevic providing a new dimension to the Celtics’ rotation and the team currently thriving in the playoffs, the “final tally” of this trade is being viewed as a net win for Boston. They successfully swapped a defensive liability for a positional need, saved millions in tax penalties, and maintained a nearly identical draft position in the second round.
