The Boston Celtics have traded veteran forward Georges Niang and two second-round draft picks to the Utah Jazz in exchange for rookie swingman RJ Luis Jr., according to an ESPN report Tuesday.
The move not only alleviates luxury tax pressure for Boston but also opens a roster spot, as Luis is on a two-way contract. The Celtics are filling that spot by signing free agent forward Chris Boucher to a one-year, $3.3 million deal, per Boucher’s agent.
Niang, 32, was acquired last month from the Atlanta Hawks in a three-team deal but departs without playing a game for his hometown team. He averaged a career-best 9.9 points and 3.4 rebounds last season in 79 games between the Cavaliers and Hawks.
Over 544 career games, Niang has posted averages of 7.4 points and 2.5 rebounds while shooting just under 40% from three. He previously spent four seasons (2017–2021) as a reserve with the Jazz.
Luis, 22, went undrafted in June and missed Summer League with a knee injury. After a year at UMass, he transferred to St. John’s, where he earned Big East Player of the Year honors.
Boucher, also 32, played 50 games off the bench for the Toronto Raptors last season, averaging 10 points and 4.5 rebounds in just over 17 minutes per contest. He holds career averages of 8.9 points and 5.1 rebounds across 407 games - all but one with Toronto.
The move not only alleviates luxury tax pressure for Boston but also opens a roster spot, as Luis is on a two-way contract. The Celtics are filling that spot by signing free agent forward Chris Boucher to a one-year, $3.3 million deal, per Boucher’s agent.
Niang, 32, was acquired last month from the Atlanta Hawks in a three-team deal but departs without playing a game for his hometown team. He averaged a career-best 9.9 points and 3.4 rebounds last season in 79 games between the Cavaliers and Hawks.
Over 544 career games, Niang has posted averages of 7.4 points and 2.5 rebounds while shooting just under 40% from three. He previously spent four seasons (2017–2021) as a reserve with the Jazz.
Luis, 22, went undrafted in June and missed Summer League with a knee injury. After a year at UMass, he transferred to St. John’s, where he earned Big East Player of the Year honors.
Boucher, also 32, played 50 games off the bench for the Toronto Raptors last season, averaging 10 points and 4.5 rebounds in just over 17 minutes per contest. He holds career averages of 8.9 points and 5.1 rebounds across 407 games - all but one with Toronto.
