Two high profile NBA players ended up on the Utah Jazz this summer, although it is unclear if they will ever play together.
The Utah Jazz were the team with the worst record in the NBA last season, and their offseason moves make it uncertain whether they will improve.
All eyes are on draft pick Ace Bailey to see if he can begin to turn their fortunes around.
To help Bailey, the Jazz have acquired two experienced NBA players who may be able to share some of their wisdom, Kevin Love and Georges Niang.
Georges Niang has landed on his fourth NBA team in 2025 after the Jazz made a trade with the Boston Celtics.
Having begun 2025 with the Cleveland Cavaliers, the team with the best record in the NBA at the time, he is now with the worst.
The Cavaliers traded Niang to the Atlanta Hawks at the trade deadline, and then this summer he was sent to Boston as part of a deal for Kristaps Porzingis.
Now without even playing a game for the Celtics, Niang has been traded to Utah, with the team seeking to cut their salary costs even lower, taking undrafted rookie RJ Luis Jr in exchange.
Niang is now on the same team as veteran Kevin Love, a player he once said was an honor to be compared to.
This came way back in 2011 when Niang was playing in college for Iowa State. His coach at the time was Fred Hoiberg, a player he helped bring to the Timberwolves when he was in the front office.
Niang said at the time: “Because of his background in the NBA, that was a huge compliment.”
Hoiberg helped Niang reach the NBA, where he was drafted with the 50th overall pick with the Indiana Pacers.
Now he shares a roster with Kevin Love for the first time in his career. For now.
Kevin Love ended up traded away from the Miami Heat to the Utah Jazz earlier this summer along with Kyle Anderson, as part of a three-team deal which sent Norman Powell from the Heat to the LA Clippers.
The Jazz have the salary space to take on Love and Niang’s contracts, essentially making them a dumping ground for other NBA teams.
Whether Love and Niang ever play together, is unclear. There is speculation that Love is looking for a way out of Utah.
Brett Siegel of Clutch Points reports Love may consider a buyout of his Utah contract, and dreams of landing with either the LA Lakers or the LA Clippers.
If the former, he could end up sharing a court with his former Cleveland Cavaliers title winning teammate LeBron James.
Georges Niang might face a long shot to convince him to stick around with the Jazz.
