TITLE: Jazz Intend to Keep Georges Niang After Trade With Celtics
SLUG: jazz-intend-to-keep-georges-niang
CONTENT:
The Utah Jazz plan to retain veteran forward Georges Niang after reacquiring him from the Boston Celtics earlier this week, NBA insider Jake Fischer of The Stein Line reported.
Utah received Niang and Boston’s 2027 and 2031 second-round draft picks in the deal that sent two-way guard RJ Luis to the Celtics. The move brings the 32-year-old back to Salt Lake City, where he played 206 games from 2017 to 2021.
The forward’s offseason journey has been circuitous. Boston had obtained Niang from the Atlanta Hawks in the multi-team trade that delivered Kristaps Porziņģis to the Celtics. Atlanta previously added him from the Cleveland Cavaliers in the DeAndre Hunter swap.
Niang appeared in 79 games for Cleveland and Atlanta last season, averaging 9.9 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists while shooting 46.1% from the field, 40.6% from three-point range and 79.3% at the foul line. Over 544 NBA contests with the Indiana Pacers, Jazz, Philadelphia 76ers, Cavaliers and Hawks, he owns career averages of 7.4 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.0 assist.
Keeping Niang is part of an extensive offseason overhaul for Utah. After finishing an NBA-worst 17-65, the Jazz drafted Rutgers guard Ace Bailey fifth overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, traded John Collins to the Los Angeles Clippers, moved Collin Sexton to the Charlotte Hornets for Jusuf Nurkić, acquired Kevin Love and Kyle Anderson from the Miami Heat, and completed a buyout with Jordan Clarkson. A buyout with Love is expected to follow.
Source: Hoops Wire
