Celtics Send Niang, Two Second-Round Picks to Jazz for RJ Luis Jr.
celtics-deal-niang-and-second-rounders-to-jazz-for-rj-luis-jr
The Boston Celtics traded forward Georges Niang and two future second-round draft picks to the Utah Jazz for guard/forward RJ Luis Jr. on Aug. 5, 2025, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Utah is absorbing Niang’s expiring $8.2 million contract by using part of the $26.6 million trade exception the franchise created in the John Collins deal. The 32-year-old Niang, a second-round selection by Indiana in 2016, played four of his first five NBA seasons with the Jazz.
Boston’s primary motivation was financial. Team payroll calculations show the club’s projected luxury-tax payment falling from $73.1 million to $30.4 million after the move. The Celtics now sit $10.2 million below the second tax apron and $1.7 million above the first apron, positioning them to potentially slip under the first threshold before the trade deadline.
For the Jazz, Luis Jr. departs after signing a two-way contract in early July. The 21-year-old rookie averaged 13.1 points last season at St. John’s before turning pro.
Imagem: Vivek Jacob via basketballinsiders.org
This trade continues Boston’s summer cost-cutting campaign. Since mid-June, the Celtics have reduced projected salary and tax obligations from roughly $540 million to about $240 million, a stretch that has already seen Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis and Luke Kornet leave the roster.
Source: Basketball Insiders
