Georges Niang didn’t need a flashy preseason to make his case to the Warriors. One strong shooting night is enough to remind Golden State why he fits.
That was on display against the Sacramento Kings on Saturday night, when Niang knocked down three of four 3-pointers and finished with a calm, efficient 18.5 minutes on the floor. For a Warriors team using the preseason to sort through rotations and test different combinations, that kind of predictability matters.
Golden State’s 15-man roster picture is close to settled. Brandon Williams has been one of the clear standouts through four games, averaging 14.2 points while hitting 61.8% of his shots, and he looks set to earn a spot as the team searches for help in the non-Stephen Curry point guard minutes. Niang, meanwhile, appears positioned to claim the final roster spot after signing a partially guaranteed deal this offseason.
That decision has not been without debate. Dalen Terry turned heads with a near-triple double against the Portland Trail Blazers earlier this week, raising the obvious question of whether Golden State should lean toward a younger player with more upside and energy.
Terry has also flashed improved shooting in stretches with the Chicago Bulls and Philadelphia 76ers. But the Warriors are not just chasing upside here.
They’re chasing something steadier.
Niang’s value starts with what he has done for a long time: shoot. Across 11 NBA seasons, not counting the year he missed because of a foot injury, he has finished below 40% from deep only three times.
Two of those came early in his career, when he was still fighting for a foothold with the Indiana Pacers and Utah Jazz. That track record is exactly why a player like him keeps finding a place in NBA rotations.
The financial piece also looms large. Niang’s deal is partially guaranteed at around $1.8 million for 2026-27, and with Golden State close to the second apron, cutting him while still owing that money would be a tough sell. There may be a move to make later in the season involving the team’s other standing contracts, but for now, keeping Niang makes sense.
That doesn’t mean he can do everything the Warriors need. He is not a big rebounder, and his lack of agility limits what he can offer defensively in Kerr’s system. But with Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody out for at least the first half of the season, Golden State needs players it can trust to deliver something consistent on a night-to-night basis.
Niang gives them that. Terry may offer more long-term intrigue. But right now, in the short term, the Warriors need the known quantity.
In Other News...
Warriors Preseason Game Sparked A Scary Kings Injury Concern
A tense moment in a preseason game against the Warriors turned into a worrying scene for Sacramento when Maxime Raynaud went down with a right patellar subluxation and had to leave the court in a wheelchair. For a Kings team trying to get through exhibition play without unnecessary drama, the sight of a young player being helped off immediately cast a shadow over the night.
The encouraging part for Sacramento is that the initial fear of a major knee injury has eased, and the focus now shifts to what comes next for Raynaud as the team continues to monitor him. Support has already come from teammates, with Ben Simmons and Darius Acuff Jr. among those rallying around him, but the bigger question for the Kings is how soon they can get a clearer read on his recovery and what it means for his preseason momentum. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Roster Decision Is Raising Tough Questions About What They Value
The Warriors have started trimming their roster, and one of the more telling moves was waiving Miles Kelly even after he put together a strong preseason. Kelly had flashed enough to make the decision at least a little surprising, but the expectation now is that he will land with the Santa Cruz G League team, keeping him in the organization while the big club sorts through its final roster math.
Malevy Leons is the other name drawing attention, since Golden State is leaning toward keeping the depth forward even though he has not seen much meaningful playing time. Dalen Terry is also likely to be waived soon as the team continues to balance roster spots and contract considerations, a reminder that these end-of-camp decisions can say as much about long-term priorities as they do about short-term form. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Just Made A Podziemski Bet That Could Shape Currys Window
Stephen Currys new two-year, $116 million extension gives the Warriors a clearer short-term map around their franchise centerpiece, but it also says plenty about the kind of roster they want to build around him. Golden State locked in Brandin Podziemski on a five-year, $110 million deal as well, a move that shows real belief in the young guards place in the teams next phase and his fit alongside Curry as the Warriors try to stay competitive while planning beyond the immediate moment.
Podziemski thanked the organization for the faith it showed in him, and the contract structure only adds to the sense that Golden State sees him as more than a useful rotation piece. For the Warriors, the question now is how far that bet extends and what it means for the balance between Currys win-now timeline and the young core they are choosing to invest in around him. [Read more 🡒]