Georges Niang has been stuck in the kind of summer no veteran wants: healthy enough to be discussed, unavailable enough to disappear from the market. But according to NBA insider Jake Fischer, the Golden State Warriors could be the team that changes that.
For Niang, that would mean more than just a new landing spot. It would be a way back into the league after a foot injury wiped out his entire last season.
He was traded twice last summer, first to the Jazz and then to the Grizzlies in the middle of the season, but he never actually got on the floor for Utah before being moved again. Since being waived, his name has barely surfaced - which is why this reported interest matters.
Niang spent 2021 to 2023 with the 76ers, where he built a reputation as a reliable role player and a fan favorite. He’s still one of the better shooters available, carrying a career 39.9 percent mark from three-point range. That kind of touch is exactly why a team looking for low-cost perimeter help would take a serious look, especially if the goal is to add shooting without spending heavily.
There are obvious limitations, too. Niang is 33 and coming off a major foot injury, and that only adds to the slower foot speed that has long been part of his game. Even so, he still profiles as the type of bench piece who can step in, space the floor and keep things simple.
Golden State, meanwhile, hasn’t exactly lit up the offseason. The Warriors re-signed Gary Payton II, but they still have roster spots to fill after missing out on LeBron.
Their core is getting older, and the Western Conference isn’t offering any mercy. Forward depth is one of the areas they still need to address, particularly with Jimmy Butler not expected back until next calendar year because of a torn ACL.
If the Warriors do make a move, Niang would bring the same things that made him popular in Philadelphia: efficient shooting and an easygoing presence. For a team trying to patch holes on an aging roster, that kind of fit could be enough to give him the lifeline he’s been waiting for.
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