Celtics Execute Bold Move Including Georges Niang in Three-Team Deal
The Boston Celtics pulled off a three-team trade on the eve of the 2025 NBA Draft, sending forward Kristaps Porzingis to the Atlanta Hawks and acquiring veteran reserve Georges Niang plus a second-round pick. The deal, which also involves the Brooklyn Nets, follows Boston’s prior move of trading point guard Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers for Anfernee Simons and draft assets. President of basketball operations Brad Stevens signaled a strategic pivot. Retrench after Jayson Tatum’s season-ending Achilles injury and trim payroll to avoid punitive luxury taxes.
Motivation Behind the Trade: Managing Payroll and Planning Ahead
Boston’s roster faced tremors when Tatum suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon in Game 4 of the 2025 second-round playoff series against the New York Knicks. With Tatum expected to miss most, if not all, of 2025–26—and due $54 million in that season—the Celtics opted to lighten the financial load. Jrue Holiday’s remaining $103 million over three years and Porzingis’ $30.7 million for 2025–26 would have pushed Boston deep into the second luxury tax apron. By moving these veterans, Boston drops below that threshold. Potentially saving up to $180 million in projected tax penalties.
This cost-cutting aligns with the front office’s view that without Tatum, the Eastern Conference is wide open. The Celtics needed flexibility for when Tatum returns in 2026–27, as well as to navigate new ownership coming on board soon. Adding an expiring contract like Georges Niang’s $8.2 million deal offers short-term depth and future maneuverability.
Details of the Three-Team Swap Involving Georges Niang
According to ESPN sources, here’s how the pieces moved:
- Boston Celtics send: Kristaps Porzingis and a 2025 second-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks.
- Atlanta Hawks send: Veteran forward Georges Niang and a 2026 second-round pick (Boston’s least favorable) to the Celtics, plus Cleveland’s 2031 second-round pick (which Hawks held rights to).
- Brooklyn Nets send/receive: The Nets receive Atlanta’s No. 22 pick and Terance Mann; they send Georges Niang and a second-round pick to Boston.
Across this and the Holiday–Simons deal, the Celtics save approximately $180 million in luxury taxes on a projected combined payroll and tax bill exceeding $500 million next season. This maneuver brings Boston below the second apron and could pave a path out of luxury tax entirely.
How Georges Niang Fits into Boston’s Plans
Georges Niang arrives as a veteran reserve forward on an expiring contract. Known for floor spacing and experience in playoff rotations, Niang bolsters depth behind stars like Jaylen Brown and Derrick White. His shooting ability complements Boston’s emphasis on three-point offense. With Tatum sidelined, coach Joe Mazzulla can deploy Niang in spot minutes to relieve starters. Preserving energy late in games and seasoning younger role players.
Niang’s presence also gives Boston flexibility: once Tatum returns, Niang’s expiring deal can be used in further trades or to clear cap space. His professional attitude and familiarity with playoff intensity make him a valuable addition amid the Celtics’ retooling phase.
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Broader Impact: Porzingis, Hawks, and Nets
- Kristaps Porzingis to Hawks: Atlanta acquires a stretch big coming off two strong seasons in Boston. Including a 41.2% 3-point shooting year at over 19 points per game. Despite an illness late in the season, Porzingis should slot alongside Jalen Johnson, Onyeka Okongwu, and rookie Zaccharie Risacher. His $30 million expiring salary provides Hawks cap flexibility next summer, especially if they move on from Terance Mann’s $15.5 million annual contract. Porzingis will be an unrestricted free agent next summer, allowing Atlanta to decide on a long-term role.
- Brooklyn Nets’ haul: By taking Mann’s contract and the No. 22 pick, Brooklyn now holds five first-round selections in the upcoming draft (Nos. 8, 19, 22, 26, 27). With cap space remaining, the Nets can absorb Mann’s three-year deal once the new league year begins on July 6. This positions Brooklyn for further moves and rookie additions.
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Strategic Ramifications for the Celtics and Beyond
Boston’s front office recognized that trimming veteran salaries is crucial after Tatum’s injury. Tatum and Brown under massive contracts and Derrick White above $28 million in 2025–26. Adding Niang’s expiring deal helps balance short-term competitiveness and financial prudence. The Simons acquisition adds a dynamic shooting guard under contract at $27.6 million for 2025–26, complementing Brown, White, and Payton Pritchard. Niang’s role ensures veteran depth while preserving future assets.
For the Hawks, acquiring Porzingis signals ambition to compete now alongside Trae Young and rising talent. Brooklyn’s accumulation of picks sets up a rebuild or retool phase with flexibility to sign free agents or package assets.
Looking Ahead: Celtics’ Road Without Tatum
Without their leading scorer and All-NBA forward, Boston must lean on existing stars, integrate Simons. And rely on contributors like Niang to maintain competitiveness. The move illustrates how the Celtics use trades to manage cap implications, rework rotations, and adapt to injuries. As the NBA landscape shifts post-Draft, this three-team deal exemplifies the franchise’s balancing act between present goals and future planning.
With Georges Niang now in green, Celtics fans can expect veteran leadership off the bench and roster flexibility ahead of Tatum’s anticipated return in 2026–27. Meanwhile, the ripple effects of this trade will be monitored across the league. As teams adjust to new payroll realities and roster compositions.
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