Celtics ship Niang back to Utah in deal for rookie Luis
The Boston Celtics have sent veteran forward Georges Niang back to the Utah Jazz, a team he previously spent four seasons with earlier in his career.
Boston acquired Niang earlier this offseason as part of a three-team trade with the Nets and Hawks, but they never planned to keep him around.
The deal sends Niang and two second-round picks to Utah in exchange for rookie R.J. Luis. According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, the Jazz plan to keep Niang for the upcoming season.
This will be Niang’s 10th NBA season and his second stint with the Jazz organization.
Niang’s basketball journey has taken him through several NBA cities since being drafted in the second round by the Indiana Pacers back in 2016. After just one season in Indiana, he landed in Utah for his first four-year stretch with the Jazz.
The 32-year-old forward spent last season split between Cleveland and Atlanta. He appeared in 28 games for the Hawks after being traded at the deadline, starting just twice.
His Celtics “career” lasted less than a month.
Niang brings a specific skill that’s valuable in today’s NBA – consistent outside shooting. Last season, he hit 40.6% of his three-pointers while averaging 9.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.4 assists across 79 games.
The Jazz are adding veteran experience to a team that struggled mightily last season. Utah finished with the NBA’s worst record at just 17-65, continuing a rough stretch that’s seen them among the league’s bottom teams for three straight years.
Niang joins several other veteran additions in Utah, including Jusuf Nurkic, Kyle Anderson, and potentially Kevin Love – though the Jazz and Love are reportedly discussing a buyout that would make him a free agent.
For Boston, the move represents a chance to add young talent while clearing a roster spot they had no plans to use on Niang.
