On the latest Sixers Talk Podcast, Noah Levick and Danny Pommells discussed the potential impact of losing Georges Niang to the Cleveland Cavaliers in free agency.
Georges Niang will reportedly move from Philadelphia to Cleveland.
ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Friday night that Niang has agreed to a three-year, $26 million deal with the Cavs. It's a fully guaranteed contract, Yahoo Sports' Jake Fischer reported.
The Sixers signed Niang two summers ago in free agency on a two-year, $6.7 million contract. He was reliable for them as a sweet-shooting, trash-talking second-unit power forward who especially enjoyed sharing the floor with James Harden.
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Niang, who turned 30 earlier this month, shot 40.1 percent from three-point range last year, recording his fifth consecutive season at or over the 40 percent mark. His 149 made triples off the bench ranked second in the NBA.
“Obviously, I love it here in Philly," Niang said shortly after the Sixers’ Game 7 playoff loss to the Celtics. “I haven’t really processed everything, but I really enjoy being here. The guys, the camaraderie, the organization, it’s been amazing. So I’m super thankful that they’ve always welcomed me, that the fan base has welcomed me. I don’t know what the summer holds. I’m not a future-teller, but it’s going to come and we’ll find out.”
Ultimately, Niang got a substantial raise from the Cavs and looks likely to play important minutes with Cleveland's young core of Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen. The Cavs were a middle-of-the-pack team last season in terms of both three-point frequency and three-point accuracy. They'll hope Niang can be an asset on both fronts.
Meanwhile, the Sixers will go forward without a player that helped them finish the 2022-23 season first in the NBA in three-point percentage.
