The Boston Celtics traded for undrafted prospects and made a cost-cutting move.
Trading Georges Niang’s Kristaps Porzingis was a deal the Boston Celtics deemed necessary to save money. However, it was not movement that improved the team.
Now, the Celtics have doubled on the move, throwing out Nian’s expired contract in trade with the Utah Jazz.
Celtics fans didn’t take him to his tough opponent, Nian, when they faced Boston, despite general manager Brad Stevens praised him as the “winning player.”
In return for Georges Nian, the Celtics have acquired undrafted rookie Lewis Jr. from the Jazz, a uniquely travelling player.
RJ Luis Jr played for St. John’s at College. There he was coached by former Boston Celtics head coach Rick Pitino.
Pitino led the Celtics between 1997 and 2001, overseeing three losing seasons before resigning midway through the fourth.
RJ Luis made a big offer to stay in college through the NIL program and was voted Big East Player of the Year in 2025, but was keen to play in the NBA and begin his professional career.
But the disastrous game in the loss of the NCAA Tournament to Arkansas has been able to hurt draft stocks.
Lewis Jr. was shooting inefficiently, but after making a free throw with just under five minutes remaining, Rick Pitino pulled him out of the game and didn’t put him back.
Pitino said after the match, “Don’t play RJ Luis in that game.
St. John’s lost at nine with just two points when Lewis JR went out.
Speaking to Time Magazine in June, Luis Jr. said he hadn’t spoken to Pitino since April, thinking that benching could have affected the NBA’s draft outlook.
“I mean, it probably just grew those “What ifs.” It doesn’t necessarily hurt.
Despite recording seasonal 18.2 points and 7.2 rebounds in 2024-25, RJ Lewis was not drafted.
As he states, if he had questions, his bench in the critical March Madness game might have been the last straw.
The Utah Jazz scooped him up and now he is being prepared to return east, which was traded for the Boston Celtics as part of their Nyan pay dump.
The Celtics move doubles its commitment to rebuild in 2025-26. RJ Luis Jr may also surprise a few. He has his own point to prove.
Without his NCAA Tournament disaster, Lewis JR could have sneaked into the backend of the second round of the NBA Draft or reached another non-Jazz team.
But then he would not have made it to Boston. Now he has to seize his opportunity.