The Golden State Warriors may have found a second small-ball center wrinkle before the season even begins.
Yaxel Lendeborg was the obvious name when the idea first surfaced after June’s draft, but veteran forward Georges Niang has also logged time at center during scrimmages at training camp this week. Steve Kerr has already said it’s a real option as the Warriors continue shaping a five-out attack.
Niang’s history at the position is limited, though not nonexistent. He played 19% of his minutes at center in his last stint in the league with the Atlanta Hawks, and Basketball Reference shows that just 3% of his career minutes have come there overall. That makes this a bit of a curveball, but Golden State is clearly exploring it during camp and could keep testing it through its six-game preseason.
The concern is obvious: defense. Niang is about the same size as Draymond Green, but he doesn’t bring Green’s level of defensive range or impact.
"He's capable of playing small-ball five but you've got to put the right group around him, more for your defense than for your offense. It's no different to most players, you've always have to find the right five-man group," Kerr said of Niang at training camp.
On the other end, the fit makes sense. The Warriors already led the league in 3-point attempts last season, and Niang gives them another big who can stretch the floor. He has made 39.9% of his career threes, including 40.6% in his last season with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Hawks, which means opposing centers would have to follow him away from the basket.
Golden State’s frontcourt still has plenty of moving parts, even with injured six-time All-Star Jimmy Butler out for now. Kerr plans to start Lendeborg, Draymond Green and Al Horford in Sunday’s preseason opener against the L.A. Clippers, and both forwards are expected to see time at small-ball center this season.
There are other options too. Charles Bassey is in the mix, two-way big Graham Ike has impressed Green during training camp, and Kristaps Porzingis remains the wildcard after missing camp because of another health concern. The 7-foot-3 center is expected to be a major piece when he’s available.
For all the added size and defensive stability, the Niang-at-five look could still be the one Kerr reaches for when he wants to squeeze even more offense out of certain bench lineups.
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