Celtics Swap Georges Niang For Rookie Free Agent

The Boston Celtics have dealt away recent addition Georges Niang to the Utah Jazz for rookie wing player R.J. Luis.  

Soon after Jayson Tatum injured his Achilles, the Boston Celtics decided to pull back on the 2025-26 season. The foundation of the team was broken up with a trade of Jrue Holliday, the free agent departure of Luke Kornet and the likely free agent departure of Al Horford. 

The Celtics also traded Kristaps Porzingis to the Atlanta Hawks in a deal that netted them Georges Niang. Entering the NBA in 2016 afteer a decorated career at Iowa State, Niang has been a productive bench player in the league for close to a decade. 

Niang began the 2024-25 season with the Cleveland Cavaliers before being traded to the Hawks midseason. He played well in Atlanta averaging 12.1 points per game in around 23 minutes a night. 

While Niang is a productive player, he will make more than $8 million this season which made him a bad fit for a Boston team that was looking to save money. So the forward to flipped to the Utah Jazz in return for RJ Luis. 

Shortly after trading Niang, the Celtics signed Chris Boucher to a $3.3 million on year deal and he is expected to fill the void created by Niang's departure. 

Luis was not drafted this year but brings an impressive skill set to the table. He was voted the Big East Player of the Year and was also a Second-Team All-American. He has a chance to get some minutes on a rebuilding Celtics team.