Anfernee Simons and Nikola Vucevic will each be playing against their former team when the Chicago Bulls visit the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night.
Simons was traded from Boston to Chicago last Tuesday in exchange for Vucevic. The teams each included a second-round draft pick in the deal.
Simons jumped right into Chicago’s lineup and has averaged 20.0 points and 5.3 assists while shooting 11 of 32 from 3-point range (34.4%) in three games with the Bulls, who have been playing without Josh Giddey and Tre Jones. Giddey aggravated a hamstring injury during a Jan. 28 loss to Indiana. Jones also has been dealing with a hamstring injury that has kept him out since Jan. 22.
“I think even before (the trade), it was always going to be a job interview with this being the last year of my contract,” Simons said. “I’ve just got to make the most out of these last couple of months here, start building chemistry with the guys and see where that goes.”
Chicago coach Billy Donovan said it’s likely both Giddey and Jones will miss Wednesday night’s game.
“I don’t anticipate Josh or Tre playing Wednesday against Boston, but both guys are ramping up,” Donovan said. “They’re playing three-on-three, and they’re running up the court. I think the medical guys just want them to be in a place where there’s at least enough of a buildup and all that tightness has kind of subsided.”
Giddey averages 18.6 points, 8.6 rebounds and 8.8 assists this season — when he plays. The Bulls are 17-17 when he’s in the lineup and 7-13 when he’s not. Jones has averaged 12.4 points in his 38 games, 20 of which were starts.
Chicago enters Wednesday’s game on a five-game losing streak, which appears to be the goal after shipping out four of their top six scorers at the trade deadline.
The Celtics have tinkered with their rotation since acquiring Vucevic, who has averaged 11 points and nine rebounds coming off the bench in his two games with Boston. The Celtics overcame a 22-point deficit to defeat Miami 98-96 on Friday, then had their five-game winning streak come to an end with a 111-89 loss to New York on Sunday.
“We’re playing a little different,” said veteran guard Derrick White. “We got some new guys in new spots and so I wouldn’t say we’re as crisp as we were maybe a few weeks ago when we’ve had all offseason and the beginning of the year to figure those parts out, but it’s exciting we can continue to learn and grow. Just understand it’s going to take day-by-day to get guys comfortable, get guys in the right spots. We got a lot of guys that know how to play and so I think we’ll pick it up quickly.”
Baylor Scheierman has started four of Boston’s last six games. He had career highs for rebounds (13) and assists (five) to go along with 10 points against the Knicks.
“We’ve tinkered with (the starting lineup) all year,” Boston coach Joe Mazzulla said after the loss to New York. “I think we’re up to 15 or 17 different ones, so nothing’s changed. Everybody on our roster has a chance to impact winning, we have a chance to develop, do different things there.
“So, whether before or after deadline, nothing changes in our approach. How do we have flexibility? How do we know everyone on the roster has a chance to impact winning? We just keep developing identities.”
