Boston Celtics' Niang trade saved almost $40 million
Niang, 32, was projected to be the Celtics' starting power forward next season. However, his $8.8 million salary was too high, especially when factoring in the luxury tax penalties associated with his spot on Boston's roster. According to ESPN's Bobby Marks, when the Celtics sent Niang to the Jazz, their luxury tax bill dropped from $73.1 million to $30.4 million.
Shortly after the Celtics shipped out Niang, NBC Sports Boston posted a video to their YouTube channel when they broke down the deal, why Niang was chosen to be the makeweight, and what it means for Brad Stevens retooling efforts both now and leading up to the February 2026 trade deadline.
You can watch the full discussion by clicking on the embedded video above.
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