This offseason has been marked by significant activity. From player movement in free agency to noteworthy trades, the NBA’s landscape has shifted as familiar faces join new teams. Surprisingly, the Golden State Warriorsseem to be behind the eight ball on this front.
The front office and the top brass have looked tentative this summer, emphasizing the importance of making the “right trade.” To that point, Joe Lacob’s resistance to parting with draft capital in any trade has drastically affected the franchise’s chances of making roster upgrades.
Needless to say, this has been disheartening for Warriors fans. But on a more positive note, NBA insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer recently reported that the Dubs could be finding other ways to strengthen their roster. While noting the Warriors’ interest in available free agents, Stein wrote:
“Free agents who I’m told are drawing legitimate interest from Golden State for the Warriors’ open roster spots: Georges Niang and Brandon Williams.”
Stein had already reported on Golden State’s interest in Georges Niang as a veteran signing. But the mention of free agent guard Brandon Williams is also quite intriguing. On that note, Stein also touched on Fischer’s update, as he drew attention to a younger target, adding:
“On his Bleacher Report livestream Tuesday afternoon, Jake also mentioned Dalen Terry as a potential Warriors target.”
Unlike Niang (33) and Williams (26), the 24-year-old Dalen Terry positions himself as a promising young prospect. After being waived by the Philadelphia 76ers to clear up enough roster space to sign LeBron James and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, the former first-round pick has garnered some interest in free agency, albeit in limited capacity.
Since multiple key players are recovering from injuries this year, the Warriors would benefit from adding new players as insurance. But who among these is positioned as a better fit in the system?
Who Should The Warriors Invest In?
As things stand, the Warriors’ interest in Georges Niang, Brandon Williams, and Dalen Terry seems quite worthwhile. Given what each of these players could bring to the table, there is good reason to believe that the Dubs could benefit from signing all of them.
Niang has already established himself as a reliable veteran. Although he isn’t the most athletic player, the 33-year-old possesses tremendous basketball IQ and is immensely adaptable as a movement shooter.
After being waived by the Memphis Grizzlies before the 2025-26 season, Niang struggled to earn a spot on a different team due to his injury. However, with averages of 9.9 points and 3.4 rebounds per game on 46.1% shooting from the field and 40.6% from three-point range during the 2024-25 season, he was quite impressive.
While Niang boasts veteran experience, Brandon Williams brings significantly greater offensive upside. As the backup point guard for the Dallas Mavericks last season, Williams was spectacular, posting 13.0 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game. Although his three-point shooting figures (23.2%) left more to be desired, he had a massive impact on the team’s offense.
Unlike Niang and Williams, Dalen Terry has struggled to earn meaningful playing time in his brief four-year NBA career. But at 24, Terry has the potential to become a solid rotational piece in a system.
Although his averages of 3.7 points, 1.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 0.6 steals per game may not leap off the table, Terry possesses noteworthy physical tools and two-way upside. As a developmental project, the 24-year-old may have some value, but the Warriors may not have the time to cultivate his gifts.
Therefore, as a plug-and-play fit, there is enough evidence to suggest that Niang would be the ideal addition to the team. With his three-point shooting, experience, and intelligence, he would easily assimilate into Golden State’s motion offense.
However, if athleticism and youth are prioritized to lay the foundations for a post-Curry era, the Warriors may benefit from considering either Williams or Terry.