Boston, MA, August 6, 2025
News Summary
The Boston Celtics have traded forward Georges Niang along with two future second-round draft picks to the Utah Jazz for rookie RJ Luis Jr. Additionally, the Celtics signed Chris Boucher to a one-year contract. These moves mark significant changes for Boston as they seek to restructure their roster ahead of the new season. Niang’s trade helps the Celtics save around $8 million in luxury taxes, while Luis Jr. and Boucher aim to bolster the team amid ongoing roster reshuffling.
BOSTON, MA
The Boston Celtics have officially traded forward Georges Niang and two future second-round draft picks to the Utah Jazz in exchange for rookie RJ Luis Jr.. This trade was confirmed by various reports and marks a significant roster change for the Celtics as they reshape their team ahead of the upcoming season.
In a separate agreement, the Celtics have signed Chris Boucher to a one-year contract worth $3.3 million. Boucher joins the Celtics after spending the last seven seasons with the Toronto Raptors, a team he helped lead to a championship in 2019.
Niang’s trade to the Jazz comes just a month after he was acquired by Boston in a three-team deal that facilitated the movement of star player Kristaps Porzingis to Atlanta. While in Boston, Niang previously played four seasons with the Jazz, where he became known for his sharpshooting skills.
Last season, Niang participated in a total of 79 games while playing for both Atlanta and Cleveland, recording averages of 9.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game. His trade allows Boston to erase the final year of Niang’s contract, saving the team approximately $8 million in luxury taxes.
The Celtics are now nearly $8 million below the second apron of the NBA’s luxury tax and roughly $5.4 million above the first apron. This indicates a strategic move by the Celtics to manage their financial responsibilities and roster configuration effectively. Boston’s recent activity has seen an array of major changes, including the departures of Kristaps Porzingis, Luke Kornet, JD Davison, Jrue Holiday, and Al Horford.
The offseason for the Celtics appears to be largely focused on rebuilding, especially as key player Jayson Tatum continues to recover from an Achilles tear that he sustained during the playoff series against the Knicks. The addition of Boucher provides further depth to the frontcourt, as he averaged 10.0 points and 4.5 rebounds per game last season.
Utah’s acquisition of Georges Niang is viewed as a positive move for their young team, which also features the No. 5 overall pick Ace Bailey. During his last season, Niang achieved a career-high three-point shooting percentage of 40%, adding much-needed veteran experience to the Jazz roster.
Meanwhile, RJ Luis Jr. arrives in Boston with accolades as the 2024-25 Big East Player of the Year, following a standout performance at St. John’s University. The Celtics are also reportedly in discussions to shop guard Anfernee Simons, who has a $27.7 million contract in its final year, indicating that roster changes may not be over.
Overall, these recent moves signify the Celtics’ commitment to re-strategizing their team structure in anticipation of a more competitive season ahead.
FAQs
Who did the Boston Celtics trade to the Utah Jazz?
The Boston Celtics traded forward Georges Niang and two future second-round draft picks to the Utah Jazz.
Who did the Celtics acquire in exchange for Niang?
The Celtics acquired rookie RJ Luis Jr. from the Utah Jazz in exchange for Niang and draft picks.
What new signing did the Celtics make?
The Celtics signed Chris Boucher to a one-year, $3.3 million contract.
What financial implications does the trade have for the Celtics?
The trade of Niang allows the Celtics to save approximately $8 million in luxury taxes, significantly reducing their tax bill from $73.1 million to $30.4 million.
Key Features of the Trades
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Trade | Celtics trade Georges Niang to Jazz for RJ Luis Jr. and 2 second-round picks. |
| New Signing | Chris Boucher signs with Celtics for one year at $3.3 million. |
| Financial Impact | Celtics save $8 million in luxury taxes. |
| Player Statistics (Last Season) | Niang: 9.9 PPG, Boucher: 10.0 PPG |
| Team Direction | Celtics focused on restructuring and rebuilding. |
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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
