Bulls look smarter by the day as Nikola Vucevic continues to struggle with Celtics
The Chicago Bulls and Boston Celtics are headed in reverse instructions — Chicago towards the bottom of the standingsBoston towards a title. Their paths crossed at the commerce deadline, although, when the Celtics acquired Nikola Vucevic, and now the C’s are discovering his deadly flaws that Bulls followers already know.
The 35-year-old is a minus defensively in each side. He’s too sluggish to stick on the perimeter, however cannot shield the rim in drop protection. His offensive talent set is not sufficient to compensate for his defensive deficiencies.
Those points got here again to chunk Boston in a Game 2 loss to the 76ers of their first-round Eastern Conference playoff sequence.
Celtics studying a Nikola Vucevic downside Bulls followers have identified for years
Chicago and Boston made a easy swap at the deadline: Vucevic for Anfernee Simons and a second-round pick. While the commerce wasn’t a large win for the Bulls — Simons solely performed six video games in the Windy City — Boston got here out on the shedding finish.
In 16 video games with the Celtics, Vucevic has averaged 9.7 factors, 6.6 rebounds and a pair of.0 assists whereas taking pictures simply 34.0 p.c from three in 21.1 minutes per contest.
But issues went much more sideways on April 21 towards Philadelphia.
Vucevic performed 18 minutes behind Neemias Queta as Boston’s reserve middle and completed as a -7. He scored 9 factors and added 5 rebounds, however was 1-for-4 from three.
On the flip aspect, former Bull Andre Drummond scored 10 factors on 4-for-4 taking pictures (he hit one 3-pointer, the identical as Vucevic) and grabbed eight rebounds in 26 minutes. He was at +12 on the night time.
Drummond would’ve been a less expensive and extra productive choice for the Celtics, who’re gentle on large males as it’s — Luka Garza, the solely different true middle on the roster, performed 1 minute and 52 seconds. Joe Mazzulla is being pressured into taking part in Vucevic, and it stays a difficulty.
Vucevic deal was a uncommon commerce deadline win for the Bulls
It wasn’t a incredible February for the now-extinct entrance workplace duo of Arturas Karnisovas and Marc Eversley. Their deadlines failures aren’t the solely motive they obtained fired, however they actually did not assist.
It’s arduous to name this particular deal something apart from a win, although. Simons might have solely performed six video games with the Bulls, however his $28 million expiring wage is taking part in a big function in Chicago proudly owning the most cap area of any staff in the NBA this summer time.
And that second-round decide cannot go unnoticed. He arrived from Boston through New Orleans and can be the thirty eighth general choice in June’s draft. Counting the further first-round decide they acquired from the Portland Trail Blazers, the Bulls can have three picks in the high 38 versus just one.
It’s unlucky Karnisovas could not pull off extra offers like this one. If he discovered a approach to deal a declining participant like Vucevic for a large expiring wage and a useful draft decide, he should still have a job.
Though in all probability not.
