Latest news with #Niang
USA Today
07-08-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Making sense of the Boston Celtics after the Georges Niang trade and Chris Boucher signing
Making sense of the Boston Celtics after the Georges Niang trade and Chris Boucher signing, we can see that while the roster is in a better position to play some younger players in need of game time to develop the roster, others still have a bit of a logjam in front of them when it comes to finding minutes to hone their craft and hopefully secure a longer-term future with the Celtics. What will change as a result of dealing Niang into the Utah Jazz cap space? Who might see less floor time now that Boston has brought on the former Toronto Raptors big man? And what is the plan for the coming 2025-26 regular season for the Celtics in light of these unexpected moves? The man behind the "Nik NBA" YouTube channel put together a clip taking a closer look at how the Boucher signing and Niang trade shake things up for Boston. Take a look at the clip embedded below to hear what he had to say. Listen to "Havlicek Stole the Pod" on: Spotify: iTunes: YouTube:
USA Today
06-08-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Boston Celtics make money-saving trade by shipping Georges Niang to Utah
Boston Celtics fans won't have to worry about watching Georges Niang suit up for the roster next season. The 32-year-old forward was traded to the Utah Jazz on Tuesday, August 5. Boston packaged Niang with two future second-round picks to get the deal over the line; two-way wing RJ Luis Jr. is heading to the Celtics in the opposite direction. The move saved Boston close to $40 million in luxury taxes, while also opening up an additional roster spot. Brad Stevens moved quickly to replace Niang, signing Chris Boucher to a one-year $3.3 million contract. The back-to-back moves were certainly made due to financial reasons; however, the on-court fit is likely better, too. Shortly after news of the trade broke, Jack Simone and Sam LaFrance of the "How 'Bout Them Celtics?" podcast explored Boston's reasoning for moving on from Niang and why the luxury tax savings were undoubtedly a driving force. They also briefly touched on Luis Jr. and what to expect from the undrafted rookie in the upcoming season. You can watch the full podcast episode by clicking on the embedded video above. Watch or listen to the "Taylor Talks Celtics" podcast on: YouTube: Spotify: Apple: Substack:
USA Today
06-08-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Boston Celtics' Niang trade saved almost $40 million
Georges Niang's Boston Celtics career is over before it even got started. The veteran forward was traded to the Utah Jazz on Tuesday, August 5. Boston also gave up two future second-round picks in the deal, with two-way wing RJ Luis Jr. heading to the Celtics as part of the deal. Niang joined the Celtics as part of the three-team trade that shipped Kristaps Porzingis to the Atlanta Hawks earlier this summer. 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. Watch or listen to the "Taylor Talks Celtics" podcast on: YouTube: Spotify: Apple: Substack:
New York Post
05-08-2025
- Business
- New York Post
Celtics trade Georges Niang to Jazz for draft picks, former St. John's star RJ Luis Jr.
The Celtics traded Georges Niang to the Utah Jazz for two second-round picks and rookie RJ Luis Jr., ESPN's Shams Charania reported Tuesday. This trade appears to be a win-win for both sides, with the teams heading in different directions for the 2025-26 season. The Celtics needed to lose salary in an effort to get below the second apron, and this move achieved that, as it is another veteran player — and $8.2 million — off the books. The team also signed forward Chris Boucher on Tuesday, Charania reported. Georges Niang of the Atlanta Hawks reacts after a three-point basket against the Miami Heat during the third quarter of an NBA play-in tournament game on April 18, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. Getty Images Per Charania, even with the Boucher signing, the Celtics are now nearly $8 million below the second apron. In Luis, they will get the 2024-25 Big East Player of the Year, who starred at St. John's. Now that the Celtics are under the second apron, their tax bill has dropped significantly, which was their goal this offseason. The Celtics have been on a fire sale of players the entire offseason as they tried to get under the second apron. RJ Luis Jr. is headed to the Celtics in the trade. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post They have already seen the departures of Kristaps Porzingis, Luke Kornet, JD Davison, Jrue Holiday and Al Horford. All points lead to it being a rebuilding year for the Celtics as Jayson Tatum recovers from an Achilles tear he suffered in a second-round playoff series against the Knicks last season. Utah's addition of Niang — who was originally acquired by Boston in the trade that sent Porzingis to the Hawks earlier in the offseason — gives the Jazz a veteran presence for a young team that includes No. 5 overall pick Ace Bailey. It is also a bit of a homecoming for Niang, who was on the Jazz from 2017-21. Niang, 32, averaged 9.9 points while shooting 40 percent from three for the Cavaliers and Hawks last season.
Canada News.Net
05-08-2025
- Sport
- Canada News.Net
Report: Celtics swap Georges Niang to Jazz; sign Chris Boucher
(Photo credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images) The Boston Celtics traded forward Georges Niang and two second-round draft picks to the Utah Jazz to acquire rookie forward RJ Luis Jr., ESPN reported Tuesday. In addition to helping Boston with luxury tax issues, the trade clears a roster spot for Boston because Luis is on a two-way contract. The Celtics are using that spot to sign forward Chris Boucher to a one-year, $3.3 million contract, Boucher's agent told ESPN. Niang, 32, was sent from the Atlanta Hawks to Boston in a three-team trade last month, but the Massachusetts native will not play a game for the Celtics. Niang averaged a career-best 9.9 points and 3.4 rebounds per game last season across 79 games split between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Hawks. He has posted 7.4 points and 2.5 rebounds per game while shooting 39.9 percent from 3-point range across 544 career games (32 starts) for five teams. Niang spent four seasons for the Jazz (2017-21) as a reserve forward. In Luis, the Celtics acquired a 22-year-old swingman who went undrafted in June and missed Summer League with a knee injury. Luis played one season at UMass and transferred to St. John's, where he was voted the Big East Player of the Year and an Associated Press second-team All-American. Boucher, 32, appeared in 50 games off the bench for the Toronto Raptors last season and put up 10 points and 4.5 rebounds in just 17.2 minutes per game. He has averaged 8.9 points and 5.1 rebounds across 407 career games, 406 with Toronto and one with Golden State.
