The Utah Jazz decided to take a trip down memory lane yesterday when they re-acquired George Niang from the Boston Celtics. This trade was more of a salary dump, as the Celtics not only included two second-round picks, but all they got back for Niang was RJ Luis Jr. Honestly, as far as trades go, the Jazz could have done so much worse.
The Athletic's Tony Jones revealed shortly afterward that Utah acquired Niang in the first place because they wanted his veteran presence. On a roster with plenty of young talent, rebuilding teams do need a veteran or two who can help mold young talent to help them reach their potential.
Niang has spent the majority of his NBA career playing for playoff contenders, between the Jazz, Philadelphia 76ers, and Cleveland Cavaliers. The Atlanta Hawks weren't exactly a playoff contender when they acquired him, but were closer to that label than one of the worst teams in the NBA, like the Jazz.
This will be a new role for him as the team's new veteran mentor, but Niang has established himself as a tone setter for the teams he plays for. It might not be long before Niang's second tenure in Utah comes to an end, but he'll definitely leave his mark just like he did the first time, even if Utah is in a very different place now compared to four years ago.
Of course, let's not forget what Niang can do. Not only is he a floor spacer, but he's one of the league's best. There actually might be extra motivation for him to play his best as he wouldn't be where he is today without the Jazz developing him.
The best aspect about this trade
Niang will definitely want his minutes, especially in a contract year, but he shouldn't take too much time away from the Jazz's young talent. It's undeniable that the Jazz downgraded their veteran talents this offseason, but at the same time, the new vets they have between Niang and Jusuf Nurkic may not only provide leadership, but they also allow the youngsters to showcase their full potential.
This is a season where the Jazz will no longer have to force their veterans to sit on their bench because, outside of Lauri Markkanen, their current veterans won't demand big roles like their previous ones did. Even if the Jazz definitely added less talented players, they could still be just as positive of an influence. If not, more so.
The fact that he cost pretty much nothing to bring back shows that while this wasn't a home run trade, it was definitely one the Jazz should feel right about doing.
Grade: A