BOSTON – On Tuesday, the Boston Celtics officially announced the trade they made a week ago, acquiring Methuen native Georges Niang for Kristaps Porzingis.
There are two angles here:
One, Niang, who has officially made the north of Boston area his offseason home, is living a dream, playing for the team he grew up idolizing, from the Antoine Walker, Paul Pierce, Kenny Anderson and Dana Barros group to the champs, Pierce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett.
Two, this is a business and Niang, who will make just over $8 million in 2025-26, could be part of another summer trade to open up even more cap space.
For now, we’ll stick with the first angle, particularly after hearing Celtics president Brad Stevens speak on Tuesday.
“I am super-excited for the opportunity to play for a team I grew up adoring,” said Niang, who starred at Tilton Academy and Iowa State before embarking on his nine-year career after being picked in the second round by the Indiana Pacers, 50th overall, in 2016.
Stevens, who tried to sign Niang two years ago, before he signed with the Cavaliers, was asked about the acquisition of Niang.
His praise of the 6-foot-8, 32-year-old Niang was effusive.
“I think (Niang is) a really good player, and I think he can get better, and that’s a big part of it,” said Stevens. “Niang has just added value to winning on each team he’s been on. He’s a pain to play against, which I very much admire.”
According to Stevens, Niang has played on some very good teams and has playoff experience – 56 games – to boot.
“It’s not a coincidence that he was a part of the rotation on those really good Philly teams,” said Stevens. “He was a part of the rotation this year in Cleveland before the trade. The guy is a winner; knows how to play; knows how to bring out the best in people. So … happy he’s here.”
Niang’s journey to Boston is a long and winding one, starting with a rookie campaign with the Pacers in which he played only 23 games before being waived. He signed with the Golden State Warriors, but was waived four days before the opener.
In January of 2018 he signed a two-way contract with the Utah Jazz, playing nine games the rest of that season.
It was the next season that everything began to change as Niang’s minutes doubled to 14.0 per game, averaging 4.0 points.
Finding a home, he averaged 5.9 and 6.9 points per game before signing as a free agent – 2 years, $6.77M – with the Sixers before the 2021-22 season.
He has averaged about 9.5 points per game, two years with the Sixers and two years with Cleveland with the last few months with Atlanta.
He signed a life-changing 3-year, $25.5 million contract, with one year remaining, which appears as if it will be completed in Boston.