Celtics Ship Georges Niang and Two Second-Round Picks to Jazz for Rookie RJ Luis
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August 5, 2025 – Boston, MA. The Boston Celtics have agreed to send forward Georges Niang and two future second-round selections to the Utah Jazz in exchange for undrafted rookie guard RJ Luis, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Utah will absorb Niang’s expiring $8.2 million contract by using a portion of the $26.6 million trade exception generated last month when the Jazz moved John Collins to the Los Angeles Clippers, ESPN’s Bobby Marks reported.
The deal trims Boston’s payroll well below the second tax apron. Cap analyst Yossi Gozlan noted the move slices roughly $50 million off the Celtics’ projected luxury-tax bill, leaving the club about $1.7 million above the first apron and $9.4 million over the overall tax threshold. Boston also creates a new $8.2 million trade exception.
Niang, 32, arrived in Boston earlier this offseason as part of the three-team Kristaps Porziņģis trade. He opened last year with Cleveland before a February move to Atlanta, appearing in 79 total games (three starts) and averaging 9.9 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 21.5 minutes while shooting 39.9 percent from three-point range.
The veteran forward returns to Utah, where he played from 2017 to 2021, to provide floor spacing and experience off the bench. The Athletic’s Tony Jones reported that Niang and the Jazz have already spoken and that the player is eager to rejoin the organization.
Imagem: Dana Gauruder via hoopsrumors.com
Boston receives Luis, a St. John’s product who signed a two-way contract with Utah after going undrafted. He will occupy one of the Celtics’ two-way slots. In a corresponding roster move, Boston reached an agreement with free-agent forward Chris Boucher to take Niang’s place on the 15-man roster, Keith Smith of Spotrac tweeted.
Source: HoopsRumors
