News Summary
The Boston Celtics have officially traded forward Georges Niang and two future second-round picks to the Utah Jazz in exchange for rookie RJ Luis Jr. This strategic move aims to refresh the Celtics’ roster ahead of the upcoming season. In conjunction with the trade, the Celtics signed Chris Boucher to a one-year contract, enhancing their frontcourt depth. This roster redesign follows the recent acquisition of various players and reflects the team’s focus on maintaining competitiveness while navigating luxury tax implications. The Jazz benefit from Niang’s experience as they develop their young roster.
Boston – The Boston Celtics have traded forward Georges Niang and two future second-round draft picks to the Utah Jazz in exchange for rookie RJ Luis Jr. This trade represents a strategic move by the Celtics, allowing them to refresh their roster as they prepare for the upcoming season.
Alongside the trade, the Celtics also announced the signing of forward Chris Boucher to a one-year, $3.3 million contract. Boucher is a seasoned player with seven years of experience, most notably with the Toronto Raptors, where he was part of the 2019 championship team.
Georges Niang’s trade marks a rapid turnover for the Celtics, occurring just a month after he was acquired from the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Celtics were involved in a multi-team trade in which Kristaps Porzingis moved to Atlanta. Previously, Niang played four seasons with the Utah Jazz before his stint with Boston. During the last season, he appeared in 79 games, averaging 9.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game. The Celtics’ decision to part ways with Niang allows the team to shed the final year of his contract, providing a substantial savings of $8 million in luxury taxes, which significantly lowers their overall tax bill from $73.1 million to $30.4 million.
With Boucher joining the roster, the Celtics remain in a favorable position relative to the NBA’s luxury tax structure. Currently, the team is roughly $8 million below the second penalty apron and about $5.4 million above the first apron. This financial flexibility may offer the Celtics opportunities to make further adjustments to their roster as the offseason progresses.
The Celtics have been active in reshaping their roster this offseason, having previously moved various players, including Kristaps Porzingis, Luke Kornet, JD Davison, Jrue Holiday, and Al Horford. These changes suggest that the Celtics are entering a rebuilding phase, particularly as key player Jayson Tatum recovers from an Achilles tear sustained during the playoff series against the New York Knicks.
For the Utah Jazz, the acquisition of Niang adds a valuable veteran presence to a young team that recently drafted No. 5 overall pick Ace Bailey. Niang recorded a career-high three-point shooting percentage of 40% last season, bringing scoring capability that complements the Jazz’s development goals.
RJ Luis Jr., the rookie player brought to Boston, earned recognition as the 2024-25 Big East Player of the Year while playing at St. John’s University. His arrival on the Celtics signifies a commitment to integrating fresh talent into their lineup.
Boucher’s addition is expected to enhance the Celtics’ frontcourt depth. He averaged 10.0 points and 4.5 rebounds per game last season, providing a reliable option on both ends of the floor. This strategic signing aligns with the team’s efforts to maintain competitiveness amid the evolving dynamics of the roster.
Finally, reports indicate that the Celtics are still actively exploring trade options for guard Anfernee Simons, who is in the final year of a $27.7 million contract. As Boston continues to make changes, they remain focused on building a competitive team ready for the challenges of the upcoming season.
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Additional Resources
- NBA.com: Celtics Trade Georges Niang to Jazz
- New York Post: Celtics Trade Georges Niang to Jazz
- CelticsBlog: Celtics Trade Georges Niang
- NBC Sports Boston: Georges Niang Trade
- SI.com: Celtics Trade Georges Niang
- Wikipedia: Boston Celtics
- Google Search: Georges Niang
- Google Scholar: Georges Niang
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Boston Celtics
- Google News: Boston Celtics
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