Shams: Celtics sell Nian, free agent Buche joins Green Kai

Sources today v. ESPN's Shams Charania, the Boston Celtics traded Georges Nion and two future second-round picks to the Utah Jazz in exchange for rookie RJ Louis Jr.

Nion's salary of more than $8 million will be included in Utah's transaction exception for John Collins' transactions.

Related to this, the Celtics have agreed to sign a $3.3 million a year contract with free agent forward Chris Butcher, Roc Nation's agent Sam Permutt told Charania.

By this "Nion" deal, Boston was able to maintain flexibility below the second luxury tax protection line after the introduction of Butcher. After two operations, they are currently $7.8 million lower than the second line, while saving $34 million in luxury tax penalty.

The total salary of the Celtics has dropped from $540 million to $239 million since the NBA draft.

Bucher's contract with Boston is guaranteed and he will play an important role in the Celtics' frontcourt. He set several team records in Toronto, including scoring, rebounding, blocking, playing time and games on the bench. He is also the only remaining member of the Raptors in the 2019 NBA championship team.

32-year-old Nion was won by the Celtics in a deal involving Kristaps Porzingis. He is now back in Utah, where he spent four seasons from 2017 to 2021.

Nion shot 39.9% from three-pointers and shot at least four 3-pointers in each game, and he is in his tenth year of his career.

Louis, 22, was unselected at St. John's University and later signed a two-way contract with the Jazz.