Big News for Utah Jazz

Utah Jazz Reacquire Familiar Player in Trade with Boston Celtics

In a late offseason move, the Utah Jazz have brought back a familiar face in a trade with the Boston Celtics.

According to ESPN insider Shams Charania, the Jazz have traded RJ Luis Jr. to the Celtics in exchange for Georges Niang and two future second-round picks.

Niang’s salary will be absorbed into the trade exception created by the Jazz’s earlier move involving John Collins in a three-team deal. Additionally, this trade provides the Celtics with some extra financial flexibility under the second apron.

In return, the Jazz send rookie Luis to Boston. Luis, an undrafted free agent from St. John’s, never got a chance to play for Utah before being traded.

This trade is another part of the Jazz’s busy offseason, which also included the trades of Collins to the Los Angeles Clippers and Collin Sexton to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for Jusuf Nurkic. However, this time, Utah brings back a former player with significant prior experience in Salt Lake City.

Niang’s Career with Utah
Georges Niang began his career as a second-round pick for the Indiana Pacers in 2016. After one year, he joined the Jazz in 2017, initially on a two-way deal, before securing a full contract and staying with the team for four seasons. During his time in Utah, Niang averaged 5.5 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 0.7 assists while shooting 41.4% from the field and a strong 41.1% from beyond the arc as one of the Jazz’s most reliable shooters.

Niang later played for the Philadelphia 76ers before spending last season with both the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Atlanta Hawks. In 79 games, he averaged 9.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.4 assists while shooting 46.1% from the field.

Previously sent to the Celtics in the Kristaps Porzingis trade, Niang now returns to Utah for his second stint with the team. As a seasoned veteran, he will likely be one of the most experienced players on the roster for the upcoming season.