The Boston Celtics struck big ahead of the Feb. 5 trade deadline on Tuesday afternoon, acquiring big man Nikola Vucevic in a major swap with the Chicago Bulls.

Per Shams Charania of ESPN on social media:

BREAKING: The Chicago Bulls are trading center Nikola Vucevic and a second-round pick to the Boston Celtics for Anfernee Simons and a second-round pick, sources tell ESPN.

A 35-year-old native of Switzerland, Vucevic is in his 15th NBA season with the Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers and Bulls. A two-time All-Star, he stands 6'9, but he plays the center position. Averaging 16.9 ppg this season, he's also pulling down 9.0 rebounds.

He's shooting 50.5 percent from the floor and 37.6 percent from three-point range. He averages 17.2 ppg for this career.

Since trading Kristaps Porzingis in the offseason and losing Al Horford and Luke Kornet in free agency, the Celtics have lacked a true big man in the rotation. Vucevic will help in that department on each of the offensive, defensive and rebounding ends. Furthermore, the Celtics have had success with big men who stretch the floor (like Porzingis and Horford) and Vucevic can do that as evidenced by his 4.5 three-pointers attempted per game.

He's a free agent at the conclusion of this season. 

An investment like this shows that the Celtics are serious about contending this season. At 31-18, the C's have played the entire campaign without Jayson Tatum, who tore his Achilles tendon during last year's playoffs. With Tatum expected to return at some point, the Celtics should be able to make some noise in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Currently tied for second place in the conference, this move shows that ownership and management believe that as well.

At 26 years old, Simons is a former first-round pick of the Portland Trail Blazers. The Celtics acquired him last offseason and he averaged 14.2 ppg for them. He also pulled down 2.4 rebounds and dished out 2.4 assists.

He had 27 points in the Celtics' win on Sunday over Milwaukee.

Trading him is less about him not being a good player and more about him being somewhat of a roster redundancy. He's 6'3, and the Celtics already have guards in Payton Pritchard, Derrick White and Eastern Conference Player of the Month Jaylen Brown.

When Tatum returns, that's another player who will handle the ball, likely leading to less need for Simons. 

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