(670 The Score) The Bulls-Wizards trade that was agreed to earlier Thursday morphed into a bigger deal just before the deadline passed in the afternoon.
The Celtics joined the mix as well to create a three-team trade. When it was all done, the Bulls sent center Daniel Gafford and forward Chandler Hutchison to the Wizards and center Luke Kornet to the Celtics. In return, Chicago received center Daniel Theis and shooting guard Javonte Green from Boston as well as forward Troy Brown Jr. from Washington. Boston also received center Mo Wagner from Washington. Beyond the players, the Bulls also received cash considerations from the Celtics and Wizards.
Combined with the Bulls’ acquisition of All-Star center Nikola Vucevic from the Magic, the trade represented a big roster shakeup for the Bulls. In the 6-foot-8 Theis, they added an undersized defensive-minded center who can both provide rim protection and is solid in defending the pick-and-roll.
Theis, 28, is averaging 9.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in 24.5 minutes in 41 games this season. He’s shooting 55.2% from the field and 34.7% from 3-point range. Theis is making $5 million this season and is set to be a free agent this summer. For the Celtics, his exit will help provide luxury tax relief.
The 6-foot-6 Brown, 21, is averaging 4.3 points and 2.9 rebounds in 21 games, all off the bench. He’s shooting 37.1% overall and 30.4% from 3-point range. The Wizards selected him No. 15 overall in the 2018 draft. Brown averaged 10.4 points in 25.8 minutes per game in the 2019-’20, but his role diminished this season after Washington drafted forward Deni Avdija.
Green, 27, is averaging 4.2 points in 13.8 minutes. He went undrafted in 2015 and played overseas before latching on with the Celtics in 2019.
Wagner, 23, is averaging 7.1 points and 2.9 rebounds in 25 games, including 13 starts.
Gafford, 22, is averaging 4.7 points and 3.3 rebounds in 12.4 minutes in 31 games. He had fallen out of Bulls coach Billy Donovan’s rotation for a long stretch before rejoining it recently. The Bulls selected him in the second round of the 2019 NBA Draft.
Hutchison, 24, had appeared in just seven games this season, sitting out since Feb. 5 due to a personal matter that the Bulls shared few details about. Chicago selected him with the No. 22 overall pick in the 2018 draft.
Kornet, 25, played infrequently for the Bulls, averaging 2.0 points in just seven games.