The Jazz announced Niang suffered a fourth metatarsal stress reaction in his left foot during offseason training and conditioning.
Niang will be re-evaluated in two weeks. He has had a busy offseason, as he was traded to the Celtics by the Hawks in the deal involving Kristaps Porzingis and then was flipped to the Jazz. The veteran forward split time with the Hawks and Cavaliers during the 2024-25 campaign, averaging 9.9 points (career high), 3.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game, shooting 46.1 percent from the field and 40.6 percent from beyond the arc.
The Celtics are trading Niang and two future second-round picks to the Jazz for RJ Luis, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.
After initially joining the Celtics as part of the Kristaps Porzingis trade earlier this offseason, Niang is on the move once again to land with a team he spent four seasons with earlier in his career. The veteran sharpshooter figures to play a reserve role for Utah behind Lauri Markkanen, and Niang will battle with Kyle Filipowski, Taylor Hendricks and Cody Williams for playing time in 2025-26.
The Hawks traded Niang and a second-round pick to the Celtics on Tuesday in a three-team deal that sent Kristaps Porzingis and a second-round pick back to Atlanta, and Terance Mann and the No. 22 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft to the Nets, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.
Niang was traded from the Cavaliers to the Hawks in February of 2025 and averaged 12.1 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 23.0 minutes across his 28 regular-season appearances for Atlanta. Due to Jayson Tatum (Achilles) potentially being out for all of 2025-26, Niang could compete for a starting role in the Celtics' forward rotation. This trade, combined with swapping Jrue Holiday for Anfernee Simons, has dropped the Celtics below the second apron.
Niang notched 20 points (8-15 FG, 2-7 3Pt, 2-2 FT), four rebounds, four assists and two steals over 26 minutes during Friday's 123-114 overtime Play-In Game loss to the Heat.
Niang led the Hawks' reserves in scoring Friday and finished as the team's third-leading scorer behind Trae Young (29) and Onyeka Okongwu (28). Niang was able to establish a bigger role for himself after being traded by the Cavaliers to the Hawks in February. Across 28 regular-season games with Atlanta (including two starts), Niang averaged 12.1 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.6 assists over 23.0 minutes per contest.
... See More... See Less
Hawks' Georges Niang: Leads bench with 15 points
Rotowire
Niang tallied 15 points (5-11 FG, 1-4 3Pt, 4-4 FT) and three rebounds over 23 minutes in Tuesday's 120-95 Play-In Game loss to Orlando.
Niang finished as the Hawks' second-leading scorer behind Trae Young (28), in a game that saw Atlanta shoot just 38.1 percent from the field and 4-for-21 from three. Niang emerged as an integral piece to the Hawks' rotation down the stretch of the regular season, having averaged 11.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists across 21.1 minutes since the beginning of March. He'll look to help Atlanta make the playoffs as the eighth seed in the East in Friday's Play-In Game against the winner of Wednesday's bout between the Bulls and Heat.
... See More... See Less
Hawks' Georges Niang: Cleared from injury report
Rotowire
Niang (rest) is not listed on the injury report for Tuesday's Play-In Game against the Magic, Lauren L. Williams of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Niang missed Sunday's regular-season finale against Orlando for rest purposes, but he's cleared to play in Tuesday's meeting with the Magic. The veteran sharpshooter should play a significant role as a floor spacer off the bench, having averaged 11.8 points, 1.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 2.9 three-pointers in 19.4 minutes across his final 12 games of the regular season. Niang shot 44.9 percent from downtown during this period.
Niang is listed as questionable for Sunday's game versus the Magic due to rest purposes.
Niang could sit out Sunday's regular-season finale due to the Hawks already being locked into the Play-In Tournament. If Niang is ultimately downgraded to out, Mouhamed Gueye and Dominick Barlow could receive increased playing time.
... See More... See Less
Hawks' Georges Niang: Won't play Sunday
Rotowire
Niang (rest) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against Orlando, Brad Rowland of the Locked On Podcast Network reports.
With the Hawks locked in as the eighth seed in the East and facing the Magic in the Play-In Tournament on Tuesday, Niang will rest for Sunday's regular-season finale. Dominick Barlow and Jacob Toppin should see an uptick in playing time due to Niang's absence.
... See More... See Less
Hawks' Georges Niang: Coming off bench Tuesday
Rotowire
Niang isn't in the starting five for Tuesday's game versus the Magic.
Mouhamed Gueye will reclaim his starting spot from Niang on Tuesday. Niang has averaged 11.7 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 21.0 minutes across his previous 10 appearances coming off the bench.
... See More... See Less
Hawks' Georges Niang: Will start vs. Utah
Rotowire
Niang will be in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Jazz, Brad Rowland of the Locked On Podcast Network reports.
Niang will make his third start of the season for the Hawks. In his two previous starts, the veteran forward averaged 15.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 2.0 steals per game, shooting 62.5 percent from the floor and 57.1 percent from deep.
0:24
1:44
4:55
1:31
1:19
0:44
1:47
1:00
1:55
2:50
2:50
1:30
4:24
5:15
0:29
1:00
0:46
3:18
5:30
0:30
