Former Celtics forward Georges Niang will start training camp on the sidelines with his new team. The Jazz announced on Saturday that the 32-year-old suffered a fourth metatarsal stress reaction in his left foot during offseason training and conditioning. He will be reevaluated in two weeks, according to the team.
The Jazz acquired Niang from the Celtics in August in a salary dump deal with Boston. The Celtics dealt Niang with two second-round picks in exchange for two-way forward RJ Luis Jr., who went undrafted out of St. John’s. The move helped get Niang’s $8.2 million salary off Boston’s books for next season and opened up a roster spot for the Celtics to sign former Raptors big man Chris Boucher to a one-year deal. Boston originally acquired Niang as part of a three-team trade that sent Kristaps Porzingis to the Hawks back in June.
Niang is expected to compete for minutes with the Jazz off the bench after splitting time with the Cavaliers and Hawks last season. He averaged 9.9 points and 3.4 rebounds on 40 percent shooting from 3-point range over 79 games last year. He originally spent four seasons in Utah from 2017-2021 after being drafted in the second round by the Pacers in 2016.
Niang will compete for minutes amid a host of veterans and young players in Utah’s frontocurt including Kyle Anderson, Kevin Love, Taylor Hendricks, Cody Williams, Lauri Markkanen, Kyle Filipowski and Bruce Sensabaugh.
Utah opens up their training camp next week and will face Boston at TD Garden on November 3rd.
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