August 6: The move is now official, per the Celtics (via Twitter).
The second-rounders headed to the Jazz in the deal are either the Celtics’ or Magic’s 2027 pick (whichever is most favorable) and either the Celtics’ or Cavaliers’ 2031 pick (whichever is most favorable), per Jake Fischer (Twitter link).
August 5: The Celtics are trading Georges Niang and two future second-round picks to the Jazz for rookie RJ Luis Jr., ESPN’s Shams Charania tweets.
Utah is utilizing part of the $26.6MM trade exception created in last month’s three-team trade in which Utah dealt John Collins to the Clippers, Bobby Marks of ESPN tweets.
It’s another salary dump for the Celtics, allowing them to move well below the second tax apron.
Niang was acquired by Boston from the Hawks in the three-team Kristaps Porzingis blockbuster this offseason. The 6’7″ forward has an expiring $8.2MM contract for next season.
Niang has been on the move quite a bit this year. He began last season with Cleveland and played 51 games for the Cavaliers, all but one off the bench, before getting dealt to Atlanta in February. Niang appeared in 28 games with the Hawks, including two starts. Overall, he averaged 9.9 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 21.5 minutes per night last season.
Niang will provide Utah with another floor-stretching big off the bench. He’s a career 39.9% shooter on three-point tries.
It will be his second stint with the Jazz, whom he played with from 2017-21. They’re looking at him as someone who can play a rotation role and bring veteran leadership to their young core, Tony Jones of The Athletic tweets. The two sides have spoken, according to Jones, and Niang is happy and excited to be back in Utah.
Luis, an undrafted rookie out of St. John’s, was signed to a two-way contract, so he’ll fill the Celtics’ open two-way slot. Boston reached an agreement with free agent forward Chris Boucher to take Niang’s spot on the 15-man roster.
According to cap expert Yossi Gozlan (Twitter link), the Celtics shed approximately $5oMM off their luxury tax bill with the Niang trade. They’re now just $1.7MM above the first apron and $9.4MM above the luxury tax line. They also created a $8.2MM trade exception.
Wow…niang POd the wrong people…
Oh he was getting sent somewhere before he opened his big cheap shoting gob. I’m sure Niang was angling for a buyout from Boston, lols. I hope Utah sit him on the bench. Like second row of the bench handing out water.
Nrg82, Why do you hate him so much? Lol
Because he’s dirty, constantly chirping and trying to be the tough guy. His bark is far bigger than his bite and game. E.g, grabbing Jaylen Browns knee from the bench during the playoffs. Bug diffence between playing hard and being dirty. Utah is a good place for him.
I think there are far better things to do than hate on a role player who probably will be playing ball overseas this time next year lol. It’s not like he stole money from anyone (Rozier).
You can think how you want, as can I. I don’t have to like him.
Oh I never said you couldn’t, just odd because I never heard of a Niang hater before. I guess it happens every so often, James Posey was my guy I hated lol
‘I think there are better things to do than hate on a role player’
Anyways, just because you are a role player doesn’t give you a free reign to try injure people. Well, there you go, I loved James Posey.
“Anyways, just because you are a role player doesn’t give you a free reign to try injure people. ” “I loved James Posey.”
This the SAME James Posey who tried to hurt Hinrich in Game 1 of the 1st round?
Let’s talk.
Why do you hold it against him? Jaylen Brown doesn’t. Brown says they work out together in the off season.
And signed Boucher….Stevens definitely has something cooking for Simons possibly Tillman or Queta involved. Not keen on watching Bouchers rainbows from deep, lols. Is what is with Tatum out. Glad Niang is gone. Dirty, fat and crap. Be getting bought out in Utah one would think.
They should keep him until the trade deadline.
An expiring salary of that size could get them another 2nd round pick in a trade, certainly combined with their trade exception.
Or maybe more depending on the salary/player they take back. Or if he has a good season until then.
I don’t know why they’d get rid of Queeta. He makes next to nothing, he just turned 26 and he’s been productive when on the floor.
If Stevens signs any player I give that player a chance. I remember Boucher a bit back from Toronto’s championship year and after viewing his stats I think he might work well if he gets a good chance here as it looks like Toronto gave up on him. Remember overlooked players like IT, Luke, Crowder and others shined on the Celtics.
The problem with Coach Mazulla is, he never trust young players. Especially in the Playoffs where he only use 7-8 players…
Maybe with Tatum sidelined for the year, the bench will have more playing time
Yes, I would expect Coach Joe to change his style as the situation now is so different. Not so much change our playing style as just realizing this season he needs to develop our young players and get more out of sloughed off vets. I mean the pressure is off so let’s go Joe! If he doesn’t adapt then we’ll know he’s not as good a coach as we believe. Go Celts!
All those millions of words written about Niang and his future with the Celtics, gone to waste…
Hmm, I didn’t read any of that on this blog.
@Luke, is there only a 30-day waiting period for two-way signees? Typically new contracts equal at least a wait until 12/15 to be trade eligible…
link to hoopsrumors.com
Rookies are 30 days.
Two-Ways aren’t Standard contracts (30 days).
Thanks @Real2K
Yeah, 30 days for two-ways.
I’m working on a new glossary post on every kind of trade restriction that will hopefully be published at some point this week and will cover stuff like this.
This 30-day 2-way player contract is kind of a fascinating mechanism to trade a “touching” requirement that could theoretically be even more valueless than cash, draft rights or a second round pick.
Boucher is replacing Horford at the minimum. Incredible work. Could easily play another 3-4 years considering he was a late bloomer.
He’s not very good. Honestly, Diang’s a better player.
For the 3rd time. Niang’s a SF. Boston has 6 others. They had zero need for Niang, at all.
They needed a 4. Boucher is a 4.
Is this complicated?
Stevens doesn’t F around. Celtics will be fun to watch next year. Boucher>Niang by a large margin and saves 5M to boot.
The new owners mandate is to get the payroll below the luxury tax and Stevens is almost there. I also believe Celts will be fun to watch with all the pressure off and boasters saying Celts won’t make the playoffs. Can’t wait!
Anyone saying the Celtics won’t make the playoffs is crazy. Obviously losing Tatum isn’t preferable, but Brown is good enough on his own to keep Boston relevant. Add White, Pritchard, and the rest of the strong depth and they should still be in the mix. I’m guessing 4 seed with a real chance to do some damage in the playoffs.
The lesser Ainge was right, the UTAH JAZZ are not tanking this year.
Neither are the Celtics. I still believe they can win the East if they hold the line and get the 4th, 5th or 6th seed and then Tatum comes back. Tatum, Brown, White and Pritchard are good enough to score 100+ a game and they all play D.
I know I am a homer and dreaming, but if I keep telling myself this and the season is interesting again and not a tank.
Brad is a wizard and something planned. He has something cooking.
They won’t even make the playoffs
Oh, yeah, cuz the east is so scary.
Good for you and I agree Brad Stevens is a wizard with magic up his sleeve.
@CF ….. Bro, I was being sarcastic about the JAZZ
They are not going to win a lot of games, whether they try or not.
As for the CELTS, it’s Jaylen’s time to lead – he could lead the team to make the playoffs and have a decent 1st round showing ……. or the team struggles all season – then he’s deemed the player that most see him, just a great complimentary player.
I agree 100%! About Jaylen. He’s been in the league long enough, coming in as a raw athlete with brains and composure and has gotten better each season. Let’s season if his handle, his passing and leadership is there. Come on Jaylen Brown!
Tatum will be back next season…
Sadly those injury heals 1-2years…
I agree Boucher is better than Niang. Plus you add 2 second rd picks. Nice get.
The Celtics traded Niang and the picks to Utah for an undrafted rookie.
Perfect! We now have lots of new young and overlooked talent. Any executive in change of selecting talent knows it’s his chance to shine. Go Brad! Go Celtics!
So a salary dump. Was wondering why Jazz would do it. My bad , Niang has an expiring contract. Yeah Boucher at minimum is still a good move.
Reading comprehension is not a strength of yours, lol.
50 mil is worth 2 seconds.
It’s a gap year . Jesus. It’s shedding salary,
. They have until the trade deadline to get under the luxury tax..half a season to let simons showcase himself and who knows maybe that huge trade will. Come At the deadline. JB maybe 😳
Did I hear correctly that they actually have till the end of the season until the number counts as far as tax and all that? Someone correct me if I’m wrong.
I’m not sure how it makes sense that you can play the whole year above different cap levels but then fix it right at the very end and everything is all good? But that’s how I understand it anyway.
That’s how it works indeed.
Not the end of the season. The trade deadline
No, end of season.
@Gary Luxury tax penalties are calculated based on the team’s payroll at the end of the regular season (plus or minus any incentives that may or may not be earned in the postseason).
Most teams want to have their situation resolved at the trade deadline because there’s no meaningful way to reduce team salary after that unless there’s someone willing to give up a bunch of money in a buyout.
OK, thanks Luke. Makes sense that both dates are important.
Boston Celtics have 2 great stars now and I doubt very much they will trade one of them. As to Anfernee Simons a few years back I read he was a coming star maybe worth trading Jaylen Brown one-for-one. Now I read he’s no good? Doesn’t play D. Well, Brad Stevens knows talent and personalities so let’s see if he gives Anfernee a chance and if he does whether Anfernee can and will live up to it.
Simons, when his jumper falls, is an interesting player. In his 3rd and 4th years, he was shooting well, and Portland had hopes. The problem is that he doesn’t do anything else well, so when his jumper accuracy started pointing towards average, Portland began having doubts. When his accuracy dipped below average, they wanted him out.
He doesn’t defend well, doesn’t have size (6’1.5 without shoes), doesn’t penetrate the paint, doesn’t playmake well enough, doesn’t play off the ball well, draws very few fouls for a guy who handles the ball and takes many shots.
Perhaps he can be moulded into what Beasley was for Detroit last season, or Poole was for GS when they had their run. That’s the best-case scenario, I’d say. The idea of Simons being an important starting guard on a competing team seems gone at this point. But maybe he can surprise us all, we’ll see.
Poole had a decent season last year in Washington. It allowed them to trade him for CJ, Olynyk, both expiring contracts, and a 2nd rd pick to NOP. And then they traded Olynyk for a couple more 2nds.
Maybe Simons shoots well in Boston, and they’ll be able to trade him for smth at the deadline.
And if not, he’s an expiring contract.
Celtics were never keeping Hauser and Niang. Hauser is their guy and he plays solid D.
Now that that is done, Niang being traded and cap space opening up with a new trade exception…except Al Horford to either announce his retirement or resign. I am betting retirement and a huge send off for lovable Big Al, but I am hoping he will decide to play and start at center while Tatum recovers and play another year for one more shot, but I admit I am dreaming here. Al is going to retire.
Horford will definitely be with Warriors this season. In the minority, but I like Niang’s game. He’s better than Boucher at many things. Boucher is better at a tiny few.
Celtics need “the tiny few ” things Boucher is better at.
They have 5 guys that do what Niang does.
Boucher has found it very difficult to stick in the NBA because his liabilities outweigh his assets. Celtics may not play him much. Did you know dude’s 32 y.o.!?
He hasn’t found it “difficult to stick in the NBA” at all. He’s been in the league since 2018 and has made 50M. He’s been on Toronto the last 7 years. Celtics will play him a lot because they have no bigs.
Do you follow hoops?
Boucher has been in the NBA for 8 consecutive seasons now. Full stop. His last deal was multi year and fully guaranteed. I’m not sure you’re aware of who he is. You can not like him that’s fine, but this ain’t true.
I read ‘Playoff Al’ has lots of children so he may need as much money as possible to pave the way for all his family and thus play for whoever will pay him the most. But considering his outstanding personal history he may play for Boston, which loves him, a couple more years and transition into a coaching career here. Quite a man!
So now y’all liked Niang? 🤦🏻♂️
Apparently it’s just me.
I liked the idea of Niang but with proper context of the financial implications it’s really a non issue.