Welcome/Appreciation Thread, Georges Niang -- (Traded from Celtics, Aug. 5, 2025)

[hickfromfrenchlick]

I've never seen sadder welcome threads around here. It's an unpopularity contest between Niang and Simons right now.

I like both.

Simons has talent. He's been an "empty stats" guy, but he's been on a losing team. That sort of thing can change when you move to a real team and mature a bit.

Niang is not important, but the dude cares and plays with fire. We saw that in our regular season battles with Cleveland. I guess people hate him for that, but it's the type of thing where you like it when it's on your team.

Obviously, there's not a ton to celebrate after a couple of salary dumping moves, but they are both good deals given that they are dumps.

I honestly don’t know what people were expecting between the second apron and JT’s injury. This was inevitable and we weren’t going to get a king’s ransom for an old guy and a frail guy. I like Simons more than Niang, but they’re both expiring contracts so we have flexibility.

We’d really be on the treadmill next season if we had the Jrue and KP contracts hanging around our necks with Tatum on the shelf.

[Marley2Hendrix]

Okay - same gut reaction as many - I hated playing against Niang.

After chewing on it, isn't that a good thing? Across all the various playoff series over the last several years, I have too many memories of hating Niang. In fact, he's shockingly overrepresented relative to how many teams we've faced. My copium - he's a pest, has converted quite a few "there's no way HE should be making that shot," had more success guarding our guys than I thought was reasonable, and he brings attitude to a team that often could use some chippiness that isn't directed at the officials. I've talked myself into it. LET'S GO MINI-BUS!!!*

*let's start with a new nickname.

[redslastlaugh]

lol, who knows if Niang is even on the team come opening night, but I kinda like him. He's a little like Scalabrine in that he has some toughness value and some intangibles value to his game.

After he was traded to Atlanta, he played 23 minutes a game and averaged 12pts/3reb on 44/41/79 %%% in 25 games. That's not bad, imo

Okay - same gut reaction as many - I hated playing against Niang.

After chewing on it, isn't that a good thing? Across all the various playoff series over the last several years, I have too many memories of hating Niang. In fact, he's shockingly overrepresented relative to how many teams we've faced. My copium - he's a pest, has converted quite a few "there's no way HE should be making that shot," had more success guarding our guys than I thought was reasonable, and he brings attitude to a team that often could use some chippiness that isn't directed at the officials. I've talked myself into it. LET'S GO MINI-BUS!!!*

*let's start with a new nickname.

[FlatearthZorro]

I've never seen sadder welcome threads around here. It's an unpopularity contest between Niang and Simons right now.

I like both.

Simons has talent. He's been an "empty stats" guy, but he's been on a losing team. That sort of thing can change when you move to a real team and mature a bit.

Niang is not important, but the dude cares and plays with fire. We saw that in our regular season battles with Cleveland. I guess people hate him for that, but it's the type of thing where you like it when it's on your team.

Obviously, there's not a ton to celebrate after a couple of salary dumping moves, but they are both good deals given that they are dumps.

I honestly don’t know what people were expecting between the second apron and JT’s injury. This was inevitable and we weren’t going to get a king’s ransom for an old guy and a frail guy. I like Simons more than Niang, but they’re both expiring contracts so we have flexibility.

We’d really be on the treadmill next season if we had the Jrue and KP contracts hanging around our necks with Tatum on the shelf.

Not only that, I think with time in the 2nd apron, you lose an FRP? Also, the tax money is ridiculous and we aren't taking it into account cause we aren't paying it

[ThePigeon]

More like a dumpster truck than a minivan

I don't care about him, just how JT, Brown and White feel about the team construction and if they will ask for a trade

[FlatearthZorro]

Dude can play off the bench as a big man(PF) and can shoot 3s.
We should keep him unless we're trying to get under the 1st apron. And reset the repeaters. I'm not sure how much more salary we'd need to shed to get there.

[chrisab123]

I've never seen sadder welcome threads around here. It's an unpopularity contest between Niang and Simons right now.

But isn’t this what people wanted? People wanted to feel important that they could be the saviors and savvy enough how to navigate the 2nd apron and get under it like it was a fantasy job interview. People on this board also don’t want the Celtics to be dominant. They want them to eventually be contenders but if they aren’t scrappy, if they aren’t dirt dogs, then we’d rather lose early than root for that. Let the Lakers have the superstars, we’ll out work them etc…That’s why Marcus was the most popular Celtic in a long time. All his flaws, all his warts, he showed “heart”.

But in terms of a trade it’s Brad’s worst. But it’s probably important since now they can combine contracts and they can upgrade on Simons. So there’s that. Niang is also from Lawrence so people will like that too.

[chrisab123]

More like a dumpster truck than a minivan

I don't care about him, just how JT, Brown and White feel about the team construction and if they will ask for a trade

I do think Brad combines a bunch of salaries and gets an upgrade over Simons. But White won’t ask out. That’s not who you should be concerned about. Brown is a risk, however, he’s not asking out at the moment because he’s finally getting what he wants, a chance to be the guy. Tatum won’t because he’s rehabbing. However if they dump Brown for 1sts and youth id expect Tatum to come back, show he’s healthy, then give the Celtics a short list of teams. Usually the way these things go. And you know who will definitely be on that list? The Lakers.

[ParticleMan]

I love Niang because he is $22m cheaper than KP.
He can also eat minutes at the PF spot for a year. Of course we will suck but that is kinda the point.
Anyways I think it's still 50/50 he is even on the team this year.

[Bad-Thoma]

[Froob]

Like Niang, has some dawg in him

[165bows]

I give him the Tatum “get the **** outta here” instead

But he might play minutes at the four for us, so: sigh

Once we trade for Giannis imma feel MUCH better about the KP trade

Introducing your starting PF for the 2025-2026 Boston Celtics season!!

[165bows]

lol, who knows if Niang is even on the team come opening night, but I kinda like him. He's a little like Scalabrine in that he has some toughness value and some intangibles value to his game.

After he was traded to Atlanta, he played 23 minutes a game and averaged 12pts/3reb on 44/41/79 %%% in 25 games. That's not bad, imo

Okay - same gut reaction as many - I hated playing against Niang.

After chewing on it, isn't that a good thing? Across all the various playoff series over the last several years, I have too many memories of hating Niang. In fact, he's shockingly overrepresented relative to how many teams we've faced. My copium - he's a pest, has converted quite a few "there's no way HE should be making that shot," had more success guarding our guys than I thought was reasonable, and he brings attitude to a team that often could use some chippiness that isn't directed at the officials. I've talked myself into it. LET'S GO MINI-BUS!!!*

*let's start with a new nickname.

Didn't follow it at the time but apparently he was low key pretty good when he got moved to Atlanta. 19/5/2 per 36 minutes on 60TS%.

Dude is going to launch a ton of threes if he isn't traded.

[Lee Van Cleef]

I hope they move him immediately. I don’t want to see him in Celtics jersey.

[DarkAzcura]

He’s better than Scal, heh. He has played a consistent 20 MPG role averaging 8-9 PPG on great shooting on multiple 50+ win teams. He’s a solid role player that almost never misses games. Not sure why people are hating so hard other than us losing Porzingis for him. In a vacuum, he is a very solid player that has proven he can contribute on many winning teams. Statistically he is more or less Hauser but a bit beefier lol.

[flintsky21]

He's like a better Semi Ojeleye. He shoots 3s so he's probably sticking around.

[jbk1234]

He has seemed to play well against us on occasion.
I think I kind of like him if we keep him.

Back before injuries, when it looked like the Celtics and Cavs were on a collision course, the Cavs traded Niang and LeVert for Hunter. Someone posted a screen shot from Celtics Reddit where a Celtics fan was nervous because the Celtics *needed those Niang minutes* against the Cavs.

[bisme37]

I thought we weren't allowed to aggregate trades but somehow we seem to have acquired multiple Georges?

[brackdan70]

I thought we weren't allowed to aggregate trades but somehow we seem to have acquired multiple Georges?

A smattering of applause.
The Niang bros. George and George.

[bisme37]

I thought we weren't allowed to aggregate trades but somehow we seem to have acquired multiple Georges?

A smattering of applause.

Pretty sure I read we now have a minivan full of Georges but I might be confused.