00:01They're three of the best international centers in the NBA.
00:05Vucevic.
00:06Wow.
00:07Zubac has it.
00:08He goes right at Giannis Antetokounmpo, and it's foul.
00:10M1.
00:12KP.
00:13Hits it up.
00:14Follows the miss with a put-back dunk.
00:21Montenegro's Nikola Vucevic,
00:22Croatian Ivica Zubac,
00:24and Kristaps Porzingis of Latvia.
00:29And they are all on the move after a wild few days leading up to the trade deadline.
00:35Vucevic.
00:35He nails it.
00:38Vucevic was dealt from the Chicago Bulls to the Boston Celtics,
00:41joining a team that has impressed despite the season-long absence
00:45of all-NBA forward Jason Tatum.
00:50A two-time All-Star, Vucevic was moved in a deal involving guard Anfernee Simons
00:55and will help the Celtics push for a deep playoff run this season
00:59and potentially beyond with the veteran big man set to hit free agency in July.
01:08Zubac also heads to a team dealing with a long-term injury to a star,
01:12traded from the L.A. Clippers to the Indiana Pacers,
01:15who have struggled without playmaker Tyrese Halliburton.
01:21Zubac, acquired for Canadian shooting guard Benedict Mathurin and two first-round draft picks,
01:27gives the Pacers a strong post presence and a member of the all-defensive second team last year.
01:33And alongside Pascal Siakam and Andrew Nembhard,
01:37he forms a core that should help Indiana rise again when Halliburton returns next season.
01:45Corzingis is moving from the Atlanta Hawks to the Golden State Warriors
01:49with DR Congo forward Jonathan Kuminga and Bahamas shooting guard Buddy Heald
01:54headed in the other direction.
02:00Corzingis gives the Warriors both shooting and rim protection at the center position
02:04as they retool the roster in the wake of a season-ending knee injury
02:09to small forward Jimmy Butler.
02:13That trio were far from the only stars to switch teams this week
02:17with high-profile Americans also finding new homes.
02:21Two-time Olympic gold medalist Anthony Davis was sent from the Dallas Mavericks
02:24to the Washington Wizards.
02:272012 Olympic and 2014 FIBA World Cup champion James Harden
02:31left the L.A. Clippers to join the Cleveland Cavaliers
02:34and Jaron Jackson Jr., who represented Team USA at the 2023 World Cup,
02:40headed to the Utah Jazz.
02:42Jackson gets into the paint.
02:44Oh, what a shot from Jackson!
02:49But for the internationals, it's the start of what could be
02:53a significant few months on more than one front.
02:56And there's Zubats for the dunk.
02:57He's been doing some talking with his play.
03:00Although they won't feature in the second window
03:02of FIBA World Cup 2027 European qualifiers later this month,
03:07their national teams will be in action
03:09and looking to leave themselves well-placed
03:11ahead of a potentially decisive third window in July
03:15when the NBA stars will be available again.
03:18Switch it, back down, now fades, and hits it.
03:21High-level, beautiful turnaround jump shot,
03:23and that was from distance.
03:27Montenegro will be tested against Greece, both home and away.
03:30Latvia will take on Poland twice,
03:33and Croatia will have a pair of clashes
03:35with reigning world and European champion Germany.
03:41For now, though, Vucevic, Porzingis, and Zubats
03:45will be focused on settling into their new NBA homes
03:48and helping shape the playoff race.
03:51Oh, there's a ball from the Unicorn!
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