The Golden State Warriors, fresh off an offseason strategy best described as “LeBron James Or We’re Staying The Same,” are finally eyeing some actual roster additions, and one name jumps off the page: Georges Niang, the veteran forward known as “The Minivan.” This dude missed all of last season with a left foot injury, but somehow, Golden State is sniffing around him for one of their two open roster spots. Talk about a curveball.
The Minivan’s Risky Return
We’re talking about a 33-year-old who was sidelined all last season, sitting out even when the tanking Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies weren’t in a rush to get him back on court. But here’s the kicker: Niang is a lights-out shooter. His career three-point percentage is 39.9%, and he’s hit over 40% from deep in six of his last seven seasons! In his last active NBA season, 2024-25, he put up a career-high 9.9 points and drained 2.1 threes per game on 40.6% shooting. That was split between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Atlanta Hawks, a trade the Cavs apparently regretted. He stands 6-foot-6, 230 pounds, and yeah, he’s a below-average defender, but his job description is clear: catch-and-shoot threes, especially from the corner. It’s an archetype the Warriors have chased before with guys like Omri Casspi and Otto Porter, Jr. They obviously love his shooting, veteran experience, and basketball IQ. The hang-ups? That injury history and being a bit short for his position.
The Young Gun With A Glaring Flaw
But Niang isn’t the only guy on the Warriors’ radar. They’re also reportedly looking at 26-year-old guard Brandon Williams. This guy’s stats from last season with the Dallas Mavericks look decent on paper: 13 points and 3.9 assists in 66 games. He even averaged 0.9 steals, and advanced analytics dig his defense. The dude clawed his way up through the G League after a knee injury wiped out his sophomore year at Arizona and the pandemic messed with his 2020 draft process. Total grinder, right? Here’s the problem, though: he shot a brutal 23.2% from three-point range last season. Yikes. The Warriors apparently think he’s “a little young” for their 2026-27 squad, and given his 6-foot-1 frame, he’d definitely keep their dream of being the NBA’s shortest team alive. The Mavs, who’ve been collecting power forwards, don’t seem keen on bringing him back.
So, what are the Dubs really after with these two open roster spots? Are they chasing high-risk, high-reward shooting with Niang, hoping that left foot holds up, or are they taking a flier on a defensive-minded guard in Williams, despite his brick-laying from deep? Both have huge question marks, and how they fill these spots will tell us a lot about what Golden State thinks they need for the season ahead. It’s going to be interesting to see who lands on the squad, because these picks could define the early identity of the new-look Warriors.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Golden State of Mind.
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