If there is someone who has surprisingly been a massive mystery so far this season, it is former Philadelphia 76ers forward Georges Niang. The sweet-shooting veteran, who was trade twice last summer, has yet to appear in a single game for his current ball club. His team is saying that he is still injured, but at this point, can we really be sure?
The Utah Jazz are middling out in the brutal and jam-packed West, but they are slowly starting to prioritize their young guns. That is probably why Niang remains a nebulous player for them this season, as he would not have played much anyway even if he made his return. Having said that, this is easily an opportunity the 76ers can take advantage of in the trade market.
Naturally, the Jazz will not demand much, if at all, for Niang. After all, his value is at its lowest. Still, someone like Niang who is a proven floor-spacer, and more importantly, a player already familiar with Philly, holds value as a depth piece. Put simply, the 76ers should definitely try to engage Utah on a possible trade to reunite with the Minivan, as he is fondly called.
The 76ers could trade for and reunite with Georges Niang
If anything, the 76ers would greatly benefit by bolstering the forward positions. Initially tabbed as one of their strong points, their weakness in that regard has resurfaced thanks to the rusty play of Kelly Oubre Jr. and Trendon Watford, who are both just coming off semi-major injuries.
Niang, who can play both forward positions, would be a good addition to the second unit. Despite his clear deficiencies on defense due to his sheer lack of foot speed, he makes up for it with basketball IQ and more importantly, his precision from beyond the arc.
The former 76ers vet, who played for the team from 2021 to 2023, actually enjoyed a career-best stretch late last season when he suited up for the Hawks. he drained more than 41 percent of his triples, and as a career 40 percent three-point shooter, he has a tremendous floor as an auxiliary operator out on the perimeter.
The front office need to be pretty savvy with how they operate before the trade deadline, and taking a flier on low-risk guys such as Georges Niang is probably the best course of action to take. After all, the 76ers should not rock the boat too much, although improvements on the margins should be welcomed if the opportunity arises.
Now, this is one the 76ers should not just gloss over.