The Boston Celtics are going to be really bad next season, aren't they? Even with Jaylen Brown and Derrick White, two stars with championship DNA, Boston continues to deliberately undercut them with money-related moves. Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday and, in all likelihood, Al Horford are gone. Now following them out the door is Georges Niang, after only two months as a Celtic.
Boston has dealt Niang and two second-round picks to the Utah Jazz in exchange for undrafted rookie R.J. Luis Jr., per ESPN's Shams Charania.
The Boston Celtics are trading Georges Niang and two future second-round picks to the Utah Jazz for rookie RJ Luis Jr., sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/l7h0cGobfU
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 5, 2025
Celtics, Jazz execute odd late-offseason trade to save Boston more money
Niang, with one year and $8.2 million left on his contract, will return to Utah, where he started his career. The Jazz absorb Niang's salary into the John Collins trade exception. We can expect Niang to log consistent minutes off the bench, at least early in the season.
Luis joins the Celtics on a two-way contract months after signing with Utah. The No. 79 prospect on FanSided's final NBA Draft board, Luis turned heads with his decision to stay in the draft instead of returning to school and netting a hefty payday in the transfer portal.
This is a purely financial move for Boston. While the Celtics might like Luis more than most, there was no effort to lock him up on draft night. Niang's $8.2 million salary comes off the books clearly and gets Boston further below the luxury tax threshold. It what will clearly be a lost season, the Celtics are simply embracing the bad.
Good on Utah's front office, with its myriad Celtics connections, for taking advantage of the Boston teardown.
Jazz win Georges Niang trade in a big way
This is ultimately not a very consequential trade — Utah doesn't suddenly vault into contention — but Niang is an expiring contract that can potentially be flipped for another second-round pick or two closer to the deadline if he puts together a strong campaign. The Jazz also essentially turn an undrafted rookie on a two-way contract into two future second-round picks, which is plus-plus value.
Maybe Luis hits in Boston and we are forced to reevaluate in a few years, but odds are against the 6-foot-7 swingman ever amounting to much in a Celtics uniform. He's a tremendous defender, but shot-making inconsistency and poor decision-making infamously earned him a spot on the bench in St. John's NCAA Tournament loss. He is 22 years old with lackluster feel, which is a troubling combination.
Boston will refocus on building a veteran roster with competitive aspirations in 2026-27, once Jayson Tatum is back from an Achilles tear. Luis might get a few extra opportunities as the Celtics tank this season, but unless he can truly excel beyond all reasonable expectations, his opportunities will dry up fast a year from now. That's if he even gets opportunities this upcoming season, which is no guarantee.
The Jazz add the three most valuable assets in this trade. The Celtics save money, but we aren't in the business of handing out positive grades to a front office for saving ownership a few pennies. Utah's offseason has been strange and even counterproductive at times, but this was an easy win.