Georges Niang Leaves 76ers in Free Agency

Georges Niang is moving on from the Philadelphia 76ers. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Niang has agreed to a multi-year deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Sixers entered the offseason knowing they could potentially lose Niang to the open market, as they weren’t known to be negotiating an extension throughout the 2022-2023 season.

When the Sixers landed Niang during the 2021 free agency period, he was coming off of a four-year run with the Utah Jazz. In the market and searching for consistent shooters, Niang fit the description as he knocked down 41 percent of his threes in 206 games with the Jazz.

With the Sixers, Niang appeared in 76 games during his first run. He averaged a career-high of nine points while spending 23 minutes on the court per game. Niang did just what the Sixers needed him to do, as he averaged 40 percent from three during the regular season.

In his second season with the Sixers, Niang appeared in 78 games, averaging eight points. Once again, he drained 40 percent of his threes. While an injury slowed down Niang in the playoffs two years ago, he had a much more efficient showing in this past postseason, knocking down 46 percent of his threes in 11 games.

Niang was expected to garner attention from several organizations other than the Sixers this summer. In the days leading up to the opening of free agency, Niang was linked to the Cleveland Cavaliers, San Antonio Spurs, and Chicago Bulls.

In the end, Niang ends up with the Cavaliers. Per Wojnarowski, he lands a three-year deal with Cleveland worth $26 million.