Title: JUST NOW: Bulls-Celtics Agreement Sends Chicago’s Top Center to Boston to Fill Void Left by Kristaps Porzingis Departure
In a move that could reshape the Eastern Conference power structure, the Chicago Bulls and Boston Celtics have finalized a surprise trade that sends Bulls’ top center, Jalen Carter, to the Celtics—filling the defensive and rebounding void left by the departure of Kristaps Porziņģis earlier this offseason.
The deal, finalized late Wednesday evening, sends Carter—an emerging rim-protecting force and former Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year—to Boston in exchange for veteran wing Sam Hauser, a 2026 second-round pick, and cash considerations. League sources confirmed the Celtics had been pursuing Carter quietly for weeks, identifying him as the “ideal low-maintenance, high-impact big” to plug into their championship-caliber rotation.
> “Jalen Carter isn’t just a body in the paint,” said a Celtics front office insider. “He’s the kind of physical presence we lost when Porziņģis left—only tougher, younger, and hungrier.”
Carter, 25, averaged 12.3 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks last season while anchoring Chicago’s frontcourt. A relentless rebounder and pick-and-roll defender, he doesn’t space the floor like Porziņģis did, but his ability to finish at the rim and guard multiple positions gives Boston a more rugged, interior-oriented identity.
More importantly, Carter fits seamlessly into Joe Mazzulla’s system. With Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown commanding offensive gravity on the wings, Carter’s role will focus on rim protection, screening, rebounding, and cleaning up second-chance points—something Boston sorely lacked when Porziņģis missed time in the playoffs due to injury.
The Bulls, on the other hand, appear to be pivoting toward a youth-focused retool. With their playoff hopes stagnating and trade winds swirling around Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan, dealing Carter signals a commitment to flexibility. Hauser brings three-point shooting and spacing, and the future pick gives Chicago another chip in the increasingly asset-driven rebuild game.
Bulls GM Marc Eversley released a short statement:
> “This trade gives us the opportunity to grow in a new direction, while giving Jalen a real chance to compete for a title. He’s earned that.”
For Boston fans, the trade is being met with cautious optimism. While Carter doesn’t possess the offensive flash of Porziņģis, many believe his durability and toughness might make him a better fit for the Celtics’ identity—especially in high-stakes playoff matchups against physical Eastern Conference rivals like Milwaukee and New York.
NBA analyst Kendrick Perkins was quick to react on ESPN:
> “I love this move. You need a DOG in the paint to win in June. Jalen Carter might not stretch the floor, but he owns the glass. This is a Finals move.”
As training camps approach, all eyes will be on Carter’s integration into the Celtics’ system. And if Boston makes another deep playoff run—this time without the injury-plagued Porziņģis—this trade may be remembered as the one that patched the Celtics’ biggest flaw.
Boston didn’t just make a deal tonight.
They filled the one hole that stood between them and Banner 19.
