Reports indicate that the Boston Celtics are trading veteran forward Georges Niang, along with two future second-round draft picks, to the Utah Jazz in exchange for rookie wing RJ Luis Jr., as reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Niang, who previously spent time in Utah between 2017 and 2021, is set to rejoin the Jazz. His salary, valued at over $8 million, will be absorbed into the Jazz’s substantial trade exception resulting from the John Collins transaction. Wojnarowski mentioned on Tuesday that this move provides the Celtics with increased financial flexibility relative to the second apron.
Collins was a key part of a three-way deal involving the Jazz, Miami Heat, and Los Angeles Clippers earlier this summer. This trade saw the veteran forward move from Utah to L.A., while Norman Powell departed for Miami in the same exchange. In return, the Jazz obtained Kevin Love, Kyle Anderson, a 2027 second-round pick from the Clippers, and a trade exception that allowed Utah to establish a valuable asset for future trades.
In simpler terms, the Jazz possessed the necessary financial capacity to accommodate a traded player along with their salary, providing cap relief for another team — in this instance, the Celtics — in return for future draft assets.
Besides freeing up Niang’s salary, the Celtics are acquiring a promising talent in Luis. The 6-foot-7, 215-pound wing was named the reigning Big East Player of the Year and went undrafted despite an impressive final season at St. John’s, where he posted averages of 18.2 points and 7.2 rebounds per game for a Red Storm team that recorded 31 wins and earned a No. 2 seed in this year’s NCAA tournament.
Luis initially signed a two-way contract with the Jazz but will now aim to establish a role in Boston. Reports also indicate that the Celtics are adding free agent forward Chris Boucher on a one-year, $3.3 million guaranteed contract.
Boucher was the final remaining player from the Raptors’ 2019 NBA championship squad. Despite never averaging more than 13.6 points and 6.7 rebounds per game in a single season of his seven-season tenure with the Raptors, he departs Toronto as the franchise’s all-time leader in points, rebounds, blocks, minutes, and games played as a reserve.
Boston’s activity on Tuesday underscores the franchise’s ongoing efforts to reduce payroll this offseason. Last month, Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge highlighted the team’s need to stay below the second apron. This financial threshold places limitations on how much a team can spend beyond the NBA’s soft salary cap and luxury tax line without incurring the most severe penalties.
The Celtics had been navigating these financial and basketball-related restrictions for the past two seasons while fully committing to their pursuit of a championship, which culminated in the franchise’s 18th NBA title in 2024.
The Celtics’ primary motivation behind trading guard Jrue Holiday and center Kristaps Porziņģis was to get under the second apron. Niang initially landed in Boston as a result of the Porziņģis deal with the Washington Wizards. Now, he is departing before even playing a single game for the Celtics.
Following the trade of Niang and the addition of Boucher, Boston is now $7.8 million below the second apron, according to ESPN. The report also indicated that the Celtics have saved $34 million in luxury tax penalties as a result of these transactions.
