On Tuesday the Utah Jazz struck a deal to trade rookie RJ Luis Jr. to the Boston Celtics for Georges Niang and two future second-round picks (2027, 2031), league sources confirmed to the Deseret News.
The Jazz are effectively helping the Celtics shed salary so they can have some financial relief under the second apron by taking on Niang’s salary, and for the Jazz’s trouble they’re also getting a couple future second rounders.
When the Jazz traded away John Collins earlier this summer, they created a trade exception in excess of $26 million. Niang will be brought in using part of that exception (his 2025-26 salary, the final year of his deal, is $8.2 million).
Team sources have indicated that the plan is to keep Niang on the roster throughout the season, though that means there are probably a few additional smaller moves that will be made before the season begins. That could mean a potential buyout for Kevin Love, waiving KJ Martin, or something else along the edges of the roster.
Niang returns to Utah after having played for the Jazz for four years from 2017 to 2021. Utah will be Niang’s fourth team in the last calendar year. He was on the Cleveland Cavaliers roster before being traded to the Atlanta Hawks and then to the Celtics.
Across his nine-year NBA career, Niang holds averages of 7.4 points and 2.5 rebounds per game while shooting 39% from 3.
Source link
