Bulls predicted to steal NBA champion away from Celtics via trade

How can the Boston Celtics move up into the lottery of the 2025 NBA draft?

According to a new report from Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes, Boston could package its two picks in 2025 (No. 28, No. 32) as well as a protected 2028 first-rounder from the San Antonio Spurs to entice the Chicago Bulls to fork over the No. 12 pick.

The kicker here is that Boston might also have to include Kristaps Porzingis in the deal — but perhaps that is something the Celtics would be okay with, especially since cutting ties with KP would help shed salary.

Here’s the full trade proposal from Hughes

The Trade

Celtics receive…

• No. 12 pick (2025)
• Nikola Vucevic
• Dalen Terry

Bulls receive…

• Kristaps Porzingis
• No. 28 pick (2025)
• No. 32 pick (2025)
• 2028 first-rounder (via Spurs)*

*protected 2-14

“It's possible No. 28 and No. 32 would be enough of an enticement for the Bulls to give up their No. 12 selection along with Vučević and Terry's expiring contracts,” Hughes wrote on Friday.

“Porziņģis would be an upgrade over Vooch in basically every way, health permitting.”

Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp

“The uncertainty surrounding KP's health is high, though. He's ended most of his seasons with some kind of injury, and the mysterious illness that plagued him throughout the 2024-25 campaign adds another X-factor to the mix. That's why Boston is also throwing in the 15-30 portion of the 2028 first-rounder it has coming from San Antonio.”

“The Bulls tend to chase short-term success, and Porziņģis gives them a higher ceiling than Vooch. Assuming Chicago retains restricted free agent Josh Giddey and hands Matas Buzelis a larger role, Porziņģis' deep shooting would be critical. Giddey's late-season shooting surge is hard to buy after an entire career of nonthreatening play from deep.”

“Meanwhile, Boston would get a cheaper gap-year option in Vučević, who makes about $10 million less than Porziņģis in 2025-26 before coming off the books, but the real prize is Chicago's No. 12 pick. If the Celtics are going to keep a good portion of the band together, they'll need cost-controlled contributors like the one they might be able to snag in the late lottery.”

This would be a winning trade for the Celtics, especially since that 2028 Spurs pick isn’t likely to be a great one.

However, Chicago would have to be willing to take on all the risk that comes with Porzingis, and that isn’t a likely outcome.

More NBA: Celtics linked to Michigan playmaker in draft: 'Passes like Rondo'