The Boston Celtics made a bold move ahead of the trade deadline, acquiring veteran big man Nikola Vucevic from the Chicago Bulls - and it’s already turning heads. Former Celtics great and current radio color commentator Cedric Maxwell sees it as a win for both sides, and when you dig into the details, it’s hard to argue.
Boston gets a proven stretch five in Vucevic, a two-time All-Star who brings a versatile offensive package to a team already built on balance and depth. At 35, Vucevic is still producing at a high level, averaging 16.9 points on an efficient 50.5% shooting clip, including a strong 37.6% from three. Add in 9.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game, and you’ve got a big who fits seamlessly into the Celtics’ system - one that thrives on spacing, ball movement, and perimeter shooting.
For the Bulls, they bring in Anfernee Simons, one of the league’s more dynamic secondary scorers this season. It’s a move that signals a shift toward youth and offensive firepower in Chicago, while giving Simons a bigger platform to grow his game.
But back in Boston, the addition of Vucevic feels like more than just a roster upgrade - it could have ripple effects beyond the box score. With Jayson Tatum still on the mend from an injury that’s kept him out since May 2025, the Celtics have leaned heavily on Jaylen Brown, who’s playing at an MVP level and anchoring one of the league’s top defenses. Despite Tatum’s absence, Boston has surged to a 31-18 record through 49 games, good for third in the East.
That’s where things get interesting.
Tatum’s return has been a looming question all season. He’s been open about his uncertainty, revealing on The Pivot podcast that he’s weighing whether coming back this year is the right move - not because of health concerns, but out of respect for the chemistry his teammates have built without him.
“That’s something I’m contemplating every day,” Tatum said. “More so about the team.
If or when I do come back this season, like they would have played 50-some odd games without me. So they have an identity this year or things that they've felt that has clicked for them, and it's been successful, right?
Third team in the East up to this point.”
It’s a rare level of self-awareness from a superstar - recognizing that reintegrating into a winning formula isn’t always seamless. But now, with Vucevic in the mix, the calculus may change.
Boston’s front office just sent a clear message: they’re all in on this season. They believe this group can contend, and they’re giving Tatum every reason to believe it too.
Cedric Maxwell put it bluntly: “That’s the big question mark. Now, that’s the million-dollar question,” he said about Tatum’s potential return.
“I don’t know where he’s at, and I talked to him for a minute. Talking to him, he seems undecided, like he’s unsure at the moment.”
It’s understandable. Jumping back into a well-oiled machine midseason isn’t easy - even for a player of Tatum’s caliber.
But the addition of Vucevic could be the stabilizer that makes it all work. His ability to stretch the floor and facilitate from the high post opens up more options for Boston’s offense and could ease Tatum’s transition back into the lineup.
Whether or not Tatum returns before the regular season ends, the Celtics just made a move that signals belief - in their core, in their chances, and potentially in Tatum’s comeback. If this is the group that’s going to make a deep playoff run, Vucevic might be the missing piece.
And if Tatum joins them? The East just got a whole lot more interesting.