News Summary
The Boston Celtics have traded forward Georges Niang and two future second-round picks to the Utah Jazz for rookie RJ Luis Jr. They also signed Chris Boucher to a one-year contract. These moves significantly reshape the team’s roster as they prepare for the upcoming season, especially with Jayson Tatum’s recovery from injury in focus. The Celtics’ tax bill has dropped, allowing them more financial flexibility for potential future trades.
Boston – The Boston Celtics are making significant roster moves as the team trades forward Georges Niang and two future second-round draft picks to the Utah Jazz in exchange for rookie RJ Luis Jr.. ESPN reported the trade on Tuesday, illuminating the recent changes within the Celtics’ lineup as they prepare for the upcoming season. Additionally, the Celtics have signed Chris Boucher to a one-year, $3.3 million contract, adding more depth to their frontcourt.
This trade marks a notable development for both teams. Niang’s departure is particularly significant as it comes only a month after he was acquired by Boston in a three-team deal which involved Kristaps Porzingis moving to the Atlanta Hawks. The Celtics’ front office is reshaping the roster, following a series of transactions that also included players like Luke Kornet, JD Davison, Jrue Holiday, and Al Horford leaving the team.
In the last season, Niang appeared in 79 games with a split between the Atlanta Hawks and Cleveland Cavaliers, averaging 9.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game. His trade allows the Celtics to eliminate the final year of his contract, yielding a significant cost-saving of $8 million in luxury tax. With this transaction, Boston is now positioned around $8 million below the NBA’s second penalty apron and approximately $5.4 million above the first apron.
Utah’s acquisition of Niang brings valuable veteran experience to their squad, which features an emerging young talent in Ace Bailey, the No. 5 overall pick in the most recent draft. Niang, who achieved a career-high three-point shooting percentage of 40% last season, will be a reliable addition to Utah’s roster.
In a separate yet equally important move, the Celtics have secured Chris Boucher, who has spent the previous seven seasons with the Toronto Raptors. Boucher was a crucial part of the Raptors’ championship team in 2019 and averaged 10.0 points and 4.5 rebounds per game last season. His signing serves to strengthen the frontcourt capabilities of the Celtics as they navigate this offseason’s roster changes.
The Celtics’ offseason strategy appears to be one of rebuilding, especially since star player Jayson Tatum is currently recovering from an Achilles tear sustained during the playoff series against the New York Knicks. As Tatum continues his recovery, the Celtics are actively reshuffling their lineup to better position themselves for future success.
With the recent trades, Boston has significantly reduced its tax bill from $73.1 million to $30.4 million. There are also reports indicating that the team is exploring potential trade options for guard Anfernee Simons, who has a contract of $27.7 million in its final year, suggesting further changes may be on the horizon.
Overall, this offseason has been marked by notable moves for the Celtics as they aim to adapt and strengthen their roster while optimizing their financial commitments. The combination of new talent in RJ Luis Jr. and Chris Boucher alongside the addition of experienced players like Niang to the Jazz sets the stage for an interesting upcoming NBA season.
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Additional Resources
- NBA.com: Celtics Trade Georges Niang to Jazz
- New York Post: Celtics Trade Georges Niang to Jazz
- CelticsBlog: Celtics Trade Georges Niang
- NBC Sports Boston: Georges Niang Trade
- SI.com: Celtics Trade Georges Niang
- Wikipedia: Boston Celtics
- Google Search: Georges Niang
- Google Scholar: Georges Niang
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Boston Celtics
- Google News: Boston Celtics
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