BOSTON — One of Georges Niang’s favorite NBA trips over his nine years always was Boston.
It was home. It was also hugs, handshakes and that classic Niang smile.
The Methuen native was part of the second big Boston trade post-championship, with the Celtics acquiring Niang and a second round pick for fan favorite Kristaps Porzingis in a three-team trade with the Nets and Hawks.
Porzingis goes to the Hawks. Lowell’s Terance Mann goes to the Nets. And Niang to Boston.
It marks the official end of the Celtics “dynasty” run, which was expected due to the new ownership’s desire to get under the “second apron” and thus save over $100 million in luxury tax fees.
Niang is in the final year of his “life-changing” three-year, $25.5 million deal. He will be paid $8.2 million in 2025-26.
Coincidentally, this spring, Niang decided to make the north of Boston area his full-time home after recent moves to Philadelphia, Cleveland and Atlanta.
As for Niang’s talent, he brings a veteran who has seen some important minutes with Eastern Conference contenders in Philadelphia and Cleveland.
Niang was traded from first-place Cleveland before the trade deadline this winter to the Hawks, where he averaged a career-high 12.1 points over 29 games, primarily as the “sixth man.”
Niang’s other forte, besides playoff experience (56 games), is his 3-point shot. With Atlanta over 29 regular season games he averaged 2.7 three-pointers per game, with a career-high 6.6 attempts at 41.6 percent.
“Boston will always be home to me,” said Niang in an interview after the trade to Atlanta. “I still have a lot of basketball in me.”
Celtics president Brad Stevens has tried to acquire Niang a few times, including two years ago when he was a free agent. But the Celtics couldn’t match the Cavs offer he later signed.
Niang was hoping to be part of a deep playoff run with the Cavs, but he part of a deal to the Hawks, which acquired De’Andre Hunter.
This will be the sixth NBA team for Niang, who started as an Indiana Pacers second round draft pick in 2016, with stops in Utah, Philadelphia, Cleveland and Atlanta. He signed with the Golden State Warriors in 2017, but was waived before the season started.
Niang, who turned 32 earlier this month, has averaged 7.4 points over his career, but has been above that every season since 2021-22.
His career high in points is 33, in a 135-95 win over Milwaukee in January of 2024.
This was originally published by The Eagle-Tribune.
