Georges Niang experiments at center as Warriors sort out frontcourt depth

Georges Niang came to the Warriors to find a role. Playing center might be part of the answer.

Golden State used the 33-year-old forward at center during a scrimmage Thursday, according to Dalton Johnson of NBC Sports Bay Area. Niang missed all of last season after an injury in training camp, so simply getting back on the floor is a start. Figuring out where Steve Kerr can use him is next.

"You want playing time, you figure out where and how to be comfortable," Niang said, "and you find ways to implement things that you can do that can help your team."

That quote cuts to the heart of the Warriors' current frontcourt puzzle. With Kristaps Porzingis still sidelined indefinitely due to a health issue, Golden State is short on proven size. Al Horford, 40, is the only other center on the roster with substantial NBA experience, writes Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area. Horford could start on opening night, per Poole.

The situation is fluid, and Niang's willingness to slide down a position is a practical response. He's not a traditional five. At 6-foot-7 and 230 pounds, he has spent his career as a stretch forward, knocking down threes and playing with a physical edge. But in a league that increasingly values spacing and switchability, the idea of Niang as a small-ball center isn't as wild as it sounds. It's a role he can fill in bursts, especially if the Warriors want to surround Stephen Curry with shooting and pace.