NBA Trade: Celtics save $34M by sending Niang to Jazz and sign Chris Boucher

Boston reduces its payroll by sending Georges Niang and two draft picks to the Jazz for RJ Luis Jr., before signing Chris Boucher for $3.3 million on a one-year deal.

The Boston Celtics continue their financial restructuring with a trade sending Georges Niang to the Utah Jazz. According to Shams Charania of ESPN, Boston traded the forward and two future second-round picks for rookie RJ Luis Jr.

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

A strategic financial move for Boston

This transaction aligns with the Celtics’ goal to drastically reduce their payroll. Niang’s contract, worth over $8 million, will be absorbed by the Jazz’s trade exception obtained from the John Collins trade to the Los Angeles Clippers.

The financial impact is immediate for Boston: the team saves $34 million in luxury tax penalties and now sits $7.8 million below the second tax threshold. Since the NBA draft, the Celtics have reduced their payroll from $540 million to $239 million.

Chris Boucher joins the reigning champions

Following this trade, Boston announced the signing of Chris Boucher to a one-year guaranteed contract worth $3.3 million. The 32-year-old power forward leaves Toronto where he held several franchise records for a bench player: points, rebounds, blocks, minutes, and games played.

Boucher was the last remaining member of the Raptors’ 2019 NBA championship team. Last season, he averaged 10.0 points in just 17.2 minutes per game, shooting 49.2% from the field and 36.3% from 3-point range across 50 appearances.

Reunion for Niang with the Jazz

For Georges Niang, 32, this is a return to familiar territory. The forward previously wore the Jazz jersey from 2017 to 2021 before joining Philadelphia and then Boston this summer as part of the Kristaps Porzingis trade. A proven shooter with 39.9% career accuracy from 3-point range on more than four attempts per game, he enters his tenth NBA season.

RJ Luis Jr., 22, undrafted out of St. John’s, had signed a two-way contract with the Jazz in July. He now joins the reigning champions’ roster to complete their rotation.