The Celtics traded Georges Niang to the Utah Jazz for two second-round picks and rookie RJ Luis Jr., ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Tuesday.

This trade appears to be a win-win for both sides, with the teams heading in different directions for the 2025-26 season.

The Celtics had to cut costs to fall below the second apron, and this decision helped accomplish that by removing another veteran player and $8.2 million from their payroll. In addition, the team signed forward Chris Boucher on Tuesday, according to Charania’s report.

Charania noted that despite the addition of Boucher, the Celtics are still approximately $8 million under the second apron. In acquiring Luis, they gain the 2024-25 Big East Player of the Year, who shone at St. John’s.

Now that the Celtics are under the second apron, their tax bill has dropped significantly, which was their goal this offseason. 

The Celtics have been on a fire sale of players the entire offseason as they tried to get under the second apron. 

They have already seen the departures of Kristaps Porzingis, Luke Kornet, JD Davison, Jrue Holiday and Al Horford. 

All indications suggest it will be a rebuilding season for the Celtics as Jayson Tatum is in the process of recovering from an Achilles injury he sustained during a second-round playoff series against the Knicks last season.

Utah’s addition of Niang — who was originally acquired by Boston in the trade that sent Porzingis to the Hawks earlier in the offseason — gives the Jazz a veteran presence for a young team that includes No. 5 overall pick Ace Bailey.

It is also a bit of a homecoming for Niang, who was on the Jazz from 2017-21. Niang, 32, averaged 9.9 points while shooting 40 percent from three for the Cavaliers and Hawks last season.