TITLE: Utah Jazz Intend to Retain Georges Niang After Deal With Celtics
SLUG: utah-jazz-plan-to-retain-georges-niang
CONTENT:
The Utah Jazz plan to keep veteran forward Georges Niang following the trade that brought him back to Salt Lake City this week, NBA insider Jake Fischer of The Stein Line reported.
Utah reacquired the 32-year-old from the Boston Celtics along with second-round draft picks in 2027 and 2031. In exchange, the Jazz sent two-way guard RJ Luis to Boston.
League sources told Fischer that Boston had explored multiple trade options for Niang as part of its ongoing effort to reduce payroll after deals that moved Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porziņģis. Ultimately, the Celtics reached agreement with Utah, where Niang spent four seasons from 2017 to 2021 and appeared in 206 games.
Busy offseason for Niang
Niang’s rights have changed hands several times since the end of the 2023-24 campaign. He finished last season with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Atlanta Hawks, averaging 9.9 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists over 79 games while shooting 40.6% from three-point range. Cleveland sent him to Atlanta in the De’Andre Hunter trade, and the Hawks later included him in the Porziņģis deal that routed him to Boston.
Across 544 career NBA appearances with the Indiana Pacers, Jazz, Philadelphia 76ers, Cavaliers and Hawks, Niang owns averages of 7.4 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.0 assist.
Jazz continue roster overhaul
The Jazz are coming off a league-worst 17-65 season. This offseason, the front office selected Rutgers guard Ace Bailey with the No. 5 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, dealt John Collins to the Los Angeles Clippers, moved Collin Sexton to the Charlotte Hornets for Jusuf Nurkić, and acquired Kevin Love and Kyle Anderson from the Miami Heat. Utah has already agreed to a buyout with Jordan Clarkson and is expected to finalize a buyout with Love soon.
Niang’s return adds another experienced shooter to head coach Will Hardy’s frontcourt as the Jazz reshape their roster for the 2024-25 season.
Source: Hoops Wire
