Celtics TRADE Anfernee Simons for Vucevic, Does Tatum's COMEBACK Change EVERYTHING?

Locked On Celtics - Daily Podcast On The Boston Celtics

Locked On Podcast Network

Celtics Game, Celtics News, Boston Basketball, Nba Podcast, Sports, Podcast, Boston, Boston Celtics Podcast, Basketball Podcast, Celtics Basketball, Celtics Highlights, Boston Celtics, Celtics, Celtics Nba, Daily Podcast, Basketball, Nba, Celtics Today, Celtics Podcast, Celts, Sports Podcast, Boston Nba

4.7 • 1.6K Ratings

🗓️ 3 February 2026

⏱️ 16 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Boston Celtics shake up the roster, sending Anfernee Simons to the Chicago Bulls for Nikola Vucevic and a second-round pick. Does this signal Jayson Tatum’s return is imminent and set the stage for a new-look Celtics frontcourt? SI's John Karalis explores Boston’s bold move, weighing the impact of swapping wing scoring for Vucevic’s floor-spacing, rebounding, and expiring contract—and what it means for Al Horford, Neemias Queta, and Luka Garza’s rotation spots. Key topics include how Brad Stevens is keeping the team’s trade flexibility intact with a sizable traded player exception, salary cap implications, and potential next moves at the deadline. Karalis breaks down why Boston’s front office is playing the long game, discussing sign-and-trade possibilities, buyout market strategies, and whether the Celtics are positioning themselves for a blockbuster summer move. Can Boston’s revamped roster stay ahead in the Eastern Conference race?

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Now on the Lockdown Celtics podcast, Anfrony Simons has been traded. Why this might mean
0:06.5	Jason Tatum is coming back soon.
0:08.4	Locked on Celtics pod, home of the winners, baby.
0:12.6	And welcome back to the Lockdown Celtics podcast right here in the Lockdown podcast.
0:16.5	Network gets your team every day. And this time it's your team twice a day. It's a bonus
0:20.6	podcast here specifically on the Vucevich trade.
0:24.7	I will have a post-game podcast after the Dallas Mavericks game tonight.
0:30.2	So this will hold you over until then because this is the big news anyway.
0:34.0	Who cares about that game right now?
0:35.8	What we care about is Anthony Simons being traded to the Chicago Bulls for Nicola Vucevich and a second
0:43.6	round pick. If you're new to the show, the show is daily. It's available Monday through
0:47.4	Friday for free everywhere. It's on YouTube. You can watch it there. Bonus
0:50.7	podcast when they play on the weekends. I'm John Corrales. I'm a beatwriter
0:54.4	covering the Celtics for Sports Illustrated Celtics on SI. I've been covering the team for
0:59.9	about 20 years. I've been doing this podcast for 10 and I've written a couple of books about
1:03.5	this team. Let's dive into it. Why was Simon's traded for Nicola Vucevich? This is, I think, why this impacts the Tatum thing, like I said at the top, you're getting,
1:18.6	you're getting in effect an Al Horford type in Vouch.
1:23.3	You save money.
1:25.8	It's an expiring contract.
1:27.5	There's no real risk here, right?
1:29.4	All you're doing is taking a wing out and putting in a big,
1:32.6	and it's a stretch big.
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Locked On Podcast Network, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Locked On Podcast Network and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.