Celtics Trade Georges Niang to Jazz for Promising Rookie RJ Luis Jr.
So here's a pretty interesting shake-up in the NBA world—one that has the Boston Celtics making yet another offseason move. Just when it seemed like Brad Stevens was done making trades, he pulls off a quiet but strategic deal. The Celtics have sent Georges Niang, along with two future second-round picks, to the Utah Jazz in exchange for rookie wing RJ Luis Jr., according to reports from ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Now, Georges Niang had only just arrived in Boston. He was part of that big three-team trade earlier in the summer that sent Kristaps Porziņģis to Atlanta. Niang, a Massachusetts native and a known floor spacer with solid three-point shooting, was expected to contribute off the bench. But the Celtics clearly had other plans in mind. With this trade, they’ve not only moved on from Niang but also offloaded his $8.2 million salary, which helps significantly with their cap situation. It brings them well below the dreaded second tax apron, something Stevens and the front office have been focused on all offseason—especially after big-money moves like Jrue Holiday and Porziņģis were reversed.
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Now let’s talk about RJ Luis Jr. This is a player with some really intriguing upside. He started his college journey at UMass before transferring to St. John’s, where he flourished under Rick Pitino’s leadership. He was even named Big East Player of the Year and earned a spot on the All-American Second Team. That said, he did hit a rough patch during the NCAA tournament—most notably when he went just 3-for-17 from the field in a surprising upset loss to Arkansas. But those numbers don’t tell the full story. Luis is a lengthy, athletic wing with two-way potential. He’s only on a two-way contract for now, filling the last spot on Boston’s two-way roster alongside Miles Norris and Max Shulga. But with development, he could definitely grow into a rotation player—or more.
What’s more, the Jazz were able to absorb Niang’s salary using a trade exception they got in a previous deal, so this was a clean exchange on both ends. For Utah, they get a veteran shooter and a couple of picks. For Boston, it’s a cap-saving move that brings in a high-upside rookie and keeps their flexibility intact.
All in all, it’s a classic Brad Stevens move: practical, forward-thinking, and quietly bold. We’ll have to see how Luis Jr. pans out, but the Celtics clearly think he’s worth betting on.
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