Nikola Vucevic didn’t need much time to get comfortable in Celtics green. After just one practice with Boston, the veteran big man made his debut Friday night and looked like he’d been in the system for weeks. Logging 28 minutes - more than any other Celtics center - Vucevic posted a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds, playing a key role in Boston’s comeback win over the Miami Heat after trailing by as much as 22.
Head coach Joe Mazzulla praised Vucevic’s fast-tracked integration, highlighting the center’s preparation and professionalism from the moment he arrived in Boston.
“I thought he did a great job from the day he got to Boston right to tip-off,” Mazzulla said. “He prepared for everything - our language, our coverages, what we needed to do.
He put himself in a position to help us. And credit to the guys, too, for understanding quickly why we brought him in, how he can make us better, and how we can help him thrive.”
Vucevic has been linked to Boston in trade rumors before, but now that he’s officially part of the roster, his fit is undeniable. The Celtics haven’t had a true offensive-minded big man like him this season - someone who can stretch the floor, score inside and out, and still rebound at a high level.
At 35, he’s not shying away from the moment. In fact, he’s embracing it.
“I look at it as motivation to try to get to a higher level,” Vucevic said of the trade from Chicago. “I am 35 but I still feel like I have a lot left in the tank and can still play at a high level.
So having an opportunity to play in the playoffs and play for something big, I think it’s extra motivation for everybody. I’m just excited to have the opportunity.
I never really had it in my career.”
Frontcourt Reinforcements, Cap Management, and Tatum’s Timeline
While Vucevic was the headline addition, Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens had a broader strategy in play at the trade deadline. Stevens emphasized that any potential return for Jayson Tatum this season didn’t drive the team’s decision-making. The focus was on strengthening the roster now - particularly the frontcourt - and managing the salary cap.
The Celtics offloaded the contracts of Xavier Tillman, Chris Boucher, and Josh Minott, moving below the luxury tax threshold. That gave them some financial breathing room while opening up roster spots.
As Stevens put it, Tatum’s return will only happen when he’s “110 percent healthy, fully cleared by everybody that matters in that decision, and has great peace of mind.” In other words, there’s no rush - the team is building for both now and later.
With the roster trimmed to 11 players post-deadline, Boston has until February 19 to reach the league minimum of 14. One of those spots has already been filled internally: two-way big man Amari Williams was promoted to a standard NBA contract, which includes a team option for next season.
As for the remaining two slots, Stevens indicated that the Celtics are keeping a close eye on their two-way players, including John Tonje, who came over from Utah in a deadline-day move. Tonje, a versatile guard with upside, could be a candidate for elevation depending on how things shake out over the next week.
Pritchard Embraces New Role
Payton Pritchard, who started the first 48 games of the season, came off the bench in the new-look rotation - and he’s not sweating the change. In fact, he sees the value in it.
“That benefits our team more,” Pritchard said. “It puts another ball-handler off the bench.
At the end of the day, it’s about, do you play starter minutes, do you finish games? I don’t really care about starting.
If you want me to start, I’ll start. If you want me to come off the bench, it doesn’t matter.
So it’s just about, when you get in, what do you do with your minutes?”
That’s the kind of mindset championship teams need - players willing to adapt, sacrifice, and step up when it matters most.
Looking Ahead
Boston’s moves at the deadline weren’t just about adding talent - they were about fine-tuning a contender. Vucevic brings a new dimension to the Celtics’ offense, and his presence could be a game-changer come playoff time. With Tatum’s eventual return on the horizon and a few roster spots still to be filled, the Celtics are positioning themselves for a deep postseason run.
There’s still work to be done, but the message is clear: Boston is going all in - not just for today, but for the battles that lie ahead in April, May, and maybe even June.