Warriors Quietly Poach Highly Talented Shooter From Nets

Throughout the season, NBA teams have increasingly turned to the G League to uncover overlooked contributors, and the Golden State Warriors have now done the same.

Players on standard G League contracts remain particularly valuable targets. Unlike two-way or NBA deals, these contracts do not tie players to a specific franchise, leaving them free to sign with any team on a standard contract, two-way deal, or 10-day agreement.

The Houston Rockets capitalized on such an opportunity last month, signing scoring leader Tristen Newton to a two-way contract after he had remained on a standard deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves’ affiliate, the Iowa Wolves.

Golden State itself experienced the other side of that equation in January, when the Philadelphia 76ers signed center Charles Bassey away from the Santa Cruz Warriors on a 10-day contract.

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Golden State Warriors Add Proven G League Guard Nate Williams

On Monday, the Warriors took advantage of a similar situation, signing guard Nate Williams to a two-way contract, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer.

Williams had been playing with the Brooklyn Nets’ G League affiliate, the Long Island Nets, after being acquired in an offseason trade. His production quickly made him one of the team’s most reliable performers.

Through 35 games this season, the 6-foot-5 guard averaged 18.4 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.7 steals per game while shooting an efficient 47.2% from the field and 36.5% from three-point range.

Now 27-years-old, Williams has appeared in 117 G League games across four seasons since going undrafted in 2022.

During that span, he has established himself as a consistent perimeter threat, shooting 38.3% from beyond the arc on 4.3 attempts per game.

Despite Brooklyn’s interest in retaining him, Williams’ strong play had begun attracting attention from playoff-caliber teams.

“A league source told NetsDaily that Williams had hoped to remain with the Nets at the NBA level, but ultimately planned to pursue the best available opportunity for him. ‘He can really help out a playoff team,’ the source said,” NetsDaily’s Scott Mitchell and Connor Long wrote.

“Now Williams gets the chance to do just that as the Warriors control their own destiny, sitting with a 29-26 record. While Williams would have been a solid player on both ends of the court with Brooklyn, his turning 27 years old this weekend put him outside of Brooklyn’s timeline. The Warriors who still see themselves as a contender got a very talented shooter.”

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Warriors Add Experienced Depth With Two-Way Signing

Williams brings valuable professional experience, having spent time within the Utah Jazz, Portland Trail Blazers, Rockets, Lakers, and Nets organizations.

He has appeared in 47 career NBA games, averaging 3.8 points and 1.0 rebound while shooting 43.5% from the field. While his three-point numbers at the NBA level have been limited, his G League efficiency suggests clear shooting upside.

Prior to the All-Star break, Williams delivered one of his most productive outings of the season, finishing with a season-high-tying 30 points, seven rebounds, two assists, and one block while knocking down three three-pointers in a win over the Delaware Blue Coats.

“Nate’s just one of those guys who knows how to play basketball,” Williams’ former teammate Yuri Collins told NetsDaily earlier this season. “You don’t have to say too much to him. He’s an older guy. He’s played in the NBA and has a lot of minutes in the G League as well.”

His all-around impact has been evident throughout the season. Williams posted a 25-point, eight-rebound, six-assist performance in another standout showing, while also recording eight or more rebounds in eight separate games.

He has also demonstrated defensive activity, including multiple five-steal performances and several multi-block outings.

For Golden State, the signing represents a low-risk move with clear upside. Two-way contracts have proven valuable pathways for contributors in recent years, and Williams now provides experienced depth as the Warriors continue their playoff push.

He is expected to continue developing with Santa Cruz while remaining available to contribute at the NBA level when called upon, giving Golden State a seasoned option as it looks to strengthen its roster down the stretch.

Matt Evans is a sports journalist from the United Kingdom, based in Paris, with over a decade of experience covering the NBA and wider global sport. More about Matt Evans