The Golden State Warriors filled their 15-man main roster on Tuesday by signing Georges Niang to a one-year, $3.9 million contract, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Golden State also added Brandon Williams on a minimum deal the same day, wrapping up a roster build that had moved slowly through most of free agency before Tuesday’s flurry.
For Niang, it’s a return of sorts. He spent 26 games with the Santa Cruz Warriors in the G League during the 2017-18 season, and since then he’s carved out a reputation as a dependable forward with stops in Utah, Philadelphia, Cleveland and Atlanta.
His path to Golden State included a lost season. Niang missed all of last year because of injury, then was waived by the Memphis Grizzlies in February after being part of the blockbuster Jaren Jackson Jr. trade. Still, he logged 79 combined games in 2024-25 with the Cavaliers and Hawks, putting up a career-best 9.9 points per game while also grabbing 3.4 rebounds and shooting 40.6% from 3-point range.
The 33-year-old appears to have edged out Kelly Olynyk for the final spot, with the Warriors evaluating both as frontcourt options who could stretch the floor. Given Olynyk’s limited impact with the San Antonio Spurs last season, Niang’s case is the cleaner one, especially with his injury-riddled year explaining the dip in his availability.
Golden State is betting on the shooter Niang has been for most of his career. He’s a 39.9% 3-point shooter overall, and that kind of range should matter on a Warriors team that finished 20th in 3-point percentage last season.
Whether he fits into the rotation when everyone is healthy is another question. But with Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody dealing with injuries, Niang could have a real opening to matter right away, possibly as the backup power forward behind Draymond Green.
That shooting could be especially useful next to Green, and the Warriors now have a forward group that includes Green, Yaxel Lendeborg, Gui Santos and Niang for Steve Kerr to work with while Butler and Moody are out.
Across 544 career NBA games, Niang has averaged 7.4 points and 2.5 rebounds. He also brings 56 games of playoff experience from his time with the Jazz, 76ers and Cavaliers.
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