The move sets up Boston to be able to add to their team without dipping back above the second apron.
The Boston Celtics have traded backup forward Georges Niang and two second round picks to the Utah Jazz for rookie RJ Luis Jr., per recent reporting from ESPN's Shams Charania. The move now has Boston roughly $1.7 million above the first apron and $9.4 million above the luxury tax line, per The Third Apron's Yossi Gozlan, and have created a $8.2 million trade exception from the move as well.
Per Gozlan, the trade shrinks the Celtics' payroll and luxury tax by a total of $50 million, with Boston having saved $286 million in tax and payroll this offseason with the Niang deal plus trading away Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday, and cutting JD Davison.
The move sets up Boston to be able to add to their team with the signing of former Toronto Raptors big man Chris Boucher without dipping back above the second apron, and could put them in range of opening up the full midlevel exception if they can get under the first apron.
As for the incoming Luis Jr., a 22-year-old, 6-foot-7 wing signed as a two way player with the Jazz who went unselected in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Celtics get a St. John's alum who won Big East Player of the Year in 2025. He put up 18.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game last season while shooting 43.9% from the field, 33.6% from deep, and 74.7% from the line
The move will fill Boston's only open two way slot, with Max Shulga and Amari Williams, the Celtics' Nos. 46 and 57 picks in the draft this summer, taking the other two.
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This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Shams: Celtics send Georges Niang, seconds to Jazz for Luis Jr., cap space
Category: Basketball
