The Celtics continue to make cost-cutting moves in this transition summer, sending forward Georges Niang back to the Jazz on Tuesday, along with two second-round picks, for rookie RJ Luis, a former St. John’s and UMass standout.
The Celtics then shifted their focus, signing former Raptors swingman Chris Boucher to a one-year, $3.3 million minimum deal.
Niang, a Lawrence native who grew up in Methuen, was acquired from the Hawks in the Kristaps Porzingis deal but was never introduced to the media after the trade, a sign the Celtics were looking to move the final year of his contract ($8.2 million). Boston is now firmly under the second salary-cap apron, giving it more financial flexibility.
Luis, 22, was undrafted out of St. John’s but immediately signed a two-way contract with the Jazz. The 6-foot-7-inch, 195-pound swingman averaged 18.2 points and 7.2 rebounds last season for the Red Storm. He had one year of college eligibility left but decided to enter the draft.
Boston already has three two-way contract commitments — Amari Williams, Max Shulga, and Miles Norris — so it would have to waive one of those players to create space for Luis, or sign him to a standard NBA contract. Luis did not play with either of Utah’s summer league entries because of knee soreness.
Niang played parts of four seasons with the Jazz early in his career, and the Jazz were able to absorb the contract because of the exception created by trading John Collins to the Clippers.
Boucher, 32, spent the past seven seasons in Toronto and was the final member of the 2018-19 championship team still on the roster. Despite being 6-9, Boucher is more of a perimeter player, having made more than 1,000 3-pointers in his career. Limited to 50 games last season because of injuries, Boucher averaged 10 points on 49.2 percent shooting, along with 4.5 rebounds.
He was a college teammate of Celtics guard Payton Pritchard at the University of Oregon. Boucher gives Boston frontcourt options with the ability to play power forward and small-ball center, adding depth to a thin frontcourt.
The series of moves this summer has allowed the Celtics to create three trade exceptions — $22 million, $8.2 million, and $4.7 million — that can be used for future deals. One question that remains over the next seven weeks before training camp begins is whether president of basketball operations Brad Stevens plans to keep guard Anfernee Simons, who was acquired from the Trail Blazers in the Jrue Holiday deal.
Simons, 26, could add to the Celtics’ offense, but he’s entering the final year of his contract. Simons, like Niang, has not been introduced to the media more than four weeks after the trade became official.
Finally, on Thursday forward Jayson Tatum will make his first public appearance in the New England area since rupturing his Achilles’ tendon when he helps dedicate an education center in Providence, along with coach Joe Mazzulla and team president Rich Gotham.
Gary Washburn is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him @GwashburnGlobe.
