Report: Georges Niang Returns To Utah Jazz In Trade With Celtics
Aug 5, 2025, 2:42 PM | Updated: Aug 6, 2025, 4:39 pm
Utah Jazz forward Georges Niang (31) celebrates after scoring against Washington at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City on Friday, Feb. 28, 2020. (Courtesy of Deseret News)
(Courtesy of Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY – The Boston Celtics are sending Georges Niang back to Utah in a trade for RJ Luis Jr. and future picks.
Jazz rookie RJ Luis Jr. will head to Boston, while two future second-round picks will head to Utah.
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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
Georges Niang’s NBA Career
Niang left the Jazz in 2021 after a four-year stretch with the team. He then spent two seasons in Philadelphia before signing with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Niang, nicknamed “The Minivan”, was acquire by Boston earlier this summer as part of the Kristaps Porzingis trade.
In 206 appearances in Utah, the former fan favorite averaged 5.5 points and 1.9 rebounds and developed into one of the most consistent three-point shooters in the NBA.
The minivan returns to Utah. The RJ Luis era ends before it ever began. https://t.co/yddaksTjgp
— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) August 5, 2025
Prior to his time in the NBA, Niang played college basketball for Iowa State.
Utah’s roster now sits at 15 players with guaranteed contracts, plus the non-guaranteed contract of forward KJ Martin. Teams must trim their rosters to 15 players, plus three two-way players by opening night of the regular season.
The Jazz are acquiring the final year of Niang’s deal using the traded player exception created in the John Collins trade.
Niang’s expiring $8.2 million salary will be subtracted from the $26.5 million exception created, leaving the team with an $18.3 million exception to add players to the roster.
RJ Luis Jr. Heads To Boston
Luis went unselected in the 2025 NBA Draft, but signed with the Jazz soon after the conclusion of the second round.
Luis joined the Jazz after a productive three-year college career, which began at the University of Massachusetts before transferring to St. John’s for his sophomore and junior seasons.
In his final season at St. John’s, Luis averaged 18.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 2.0 assists while shooting 44 percent from the floor and 34 percent from the three-point line
The Jazz now have two open two-way contract spots.
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Ben Anderson is the author of the Jazz Mailbag, a Utah Jazz insider for KSL Sports, the author of the Jazz Mailbag, and the co-host of Jake and Ben from 10-12p with Jake Scott on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone. Find Ben on Twitter at @BensHoops, on Instagram @BensHoops, or on BlueSky.
