The Boston Celtics proceed lowering their wage and tax burden for subsequent season by buying and selling one other participant from their roster.
Shams Charania reported that the Boston Celtics traded newly-acquired ahead Georges Niang and two future second-round picks to the Utah Jazz for rookie RJ Luis Jr.
Charania defined that Niang’s wage matches into the big John Collins commerce exception, permitting the Celtics to attain extra wage reduction under the second apron threshold.
With Niang’s expiring $8.2 million contract off their books, Boston drops additional underneath the second apron and saves greater than $40 million in luxurious tax funds.
This monetary reduction represented the group’s main mission heading into this season.
Niang departs Boston after spending lower than two months with the franchise, making his tenure one of many briefest in current staff historical past.
The 32-year-old Massachusetts native was traded to Boston simply days after the 2024-25 season concluded.
He arrived by a three-team deal that despatched Kristaps Porzingis and a second-round choose to Atlanta, whereas Brooklyn obtained Terance Mann and draft rights to Drake Powell.
Shortly after becoming a member of Boston, Niang addressed criticism from Celtics followers who needed him gone rapidly, evaluating himself as a minivan to the departed ‘unicorn‘ Porzingis by way of fan reception.
The Celtics obtain 22-year-old rookie Luis Jr within the transaction. The undrafted guard from the 2025 NBA Draft spent his closing two faculty seasons at St. John’s.
Throughout his final collegiate marketing campaign, Luis Jr produced spectacular numbers together with 18.2 factors, 7.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.4 steals per sport. He shot 43.9% from the sector and 33.6% from three-point vary throughout 35 video games.
His 31.8 minutes per sport demonstrated his important function inside St. John’s system. The manufacturing suggests potential for NBA growth regardless of going undrafted.
Boston supporters expressed satisfaction with the commerce’s monetary implications fairly than mourning Niang’s departure. The transfer creates roster flexibility whereas lowering luxurious tax burden.
“Greatest information of the offseason to this point,” one fan commented, reflecting widespread approval of the wage reduction. “We didn’t need him,” one other supporter added bluntly.
Some followers acknowledged Niang’s talents whereas supporting the enterprise determination. “Like Niang, nevertheless it’s monetary transfer,” one fan famous pragmatically.
Others highlighted the commerce chain’s final end result. “We traded Kristaps for RJ Luis Jr,” one other fan noticed, summarizing the roster transformation.
The monetary reduction supplies Boston with house to pursue extra signings or put together for future roster building, particularly when Jayson Tatum comes again from damage.
