Trade Pitch Sees Celtics Turn $118 Million Guard Into Kyrie Irving Replacement

The Boston Celtics continue to shave salary off their payroll, now appearing not only determined to get under the second apron and stay there, but to cut so much that they will not owe any competitive balance, aka “luxury” tax at all. They took another step toward that goal on Tuesday when they traded newly acquired power forward George Niang to the Utah Jazz.

In return, the Celtics received former St. Johns star R.J. Luis Jr., who signed with the Jazz as an undrafted free agent on a two-way contract in June.

On his expiring contract, Niang was set to earn $8.2 million in the upcoming season.

Trading Niang Completes Porzingis Deal

The Celtics acquired Niang in June by trading away center Kristaps Porzingis to the Atlanta Hawks where he will earn the $30.7 million the Celtics would have had to pay him.

By turning around and dealing Niang for Luis Jr., the Celtics complete that deal, effectively swapping out the very expensive Porzingis — an integral player on Boston’s 2024 NBA championship team — for an undrafted free agent on a two-way deal.

The Celtics have now shed 10 of the 15 players on the championship squad. And of course, four-time All-NBA superstar Jayson Tatum is out for most or all of next season with an Achilles tear.

One More Big Salary to Slice Away

But there is another pricey piece of that team who the Celtics have not yet traded, and so far they have not shown that they plan to. However, with the Celtics in full cost-cutting mode thanks to the penalties contained in the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement, even fan favorite guard Derrick White is probably not safe.

In a new trade proposal by a user of the site FanSpo, which provides tools to automatically calculate the financial impact of proposed trade, the Celtics would shed the remainder of the 31-year-old White’s four year, $118 million contract as well.

But the trade would also upgrade the decimated Celtics, who could use — perhaps more than any other position — a center, after losing Porzigis, backup center Luke Kornet and 39-year-old big man Al Horford.

Trade Idea Sends White to Mavericks

In the proposed deal, White would be sent to the Dallas Mavericks who will be missing seven-time All-Star guard Kyrie Irving who continues to rehab a torn ACL suffered last season. Irving is not expected back in action until February or March.

Dumping White’s salary would save the Celtics, at least initially, another $30 million. But in return Boston receives two players, most notably 6-foot-10-inch center Daniel Gafford, a six-year veteran who averaged 12.3 points and 1.8 blocked shots per game in the 2024-2025 season.

The Celtics would also pick up former Los Angeles Lakers guard Max Christie, a 22-year-old who was a Lakers second-round pick in 2022. But in February, the Lakers packaged Christie with eight-time All-Star power forward Anthony Davis in a blockbuster trade for five-time first team All-NBA shooting guard Luka Dončić.

Celtics Still Need More Cuts to Avoid Luxury Tax

In the final aspect the proposed deal, the Mavericks send their own 2022 second-round pick Jaden Hardy to the New York Nets.

By shifting White’s salary to Dallas while taking back Gafford and Christie, the Celtics reduce their cap impact by $5.9 million, leaving them $10.7 million under the second apron. But Boston would still need to find another $9.2 million to dump to get themselves under the luxury tax limit.