Dieng is such a key to this franchise

[Papalrep]

Lip--
I've gone back and forth and I'm now come to the conclusion that we will likely keep Love next season.

Lip, would agree that given what's come out since this post that he's outa here?

Flip likes to look smart - he doesn't want to be holding the bag at the end of next season with nothing to show for it.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

This is a must-read for everyone. http://www.canishoopus.com/2014/6/11/5797088/gorgui-dieng-timberwolves-player-profile

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

"@NSandell: Flip/Wolves wanted Gorgui Dieng to put on weight this offseason. He's done that so far. Dieng said he's at 252 now. Was around 235"

17 pounds added to his body? I like it, I like it a LOT!

[Monster]

I'll be interested to see what Dieng looks like with some added weight. Seeing Dieng in SL action will be interesting because usually big men are kinda lost in the very guard perimeter oriented SL action. It might be a good window into seeing how much he can actually make it happen as a part-time PF during the season. I have a feeling Flip thinks Dieng is going to be a big factor in the Wolves playing better this season.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

I'll be interested to see what Dieng looks like with some added weight. Seeing Dieng in SL action will be interesting because usually big men are kinda lost in the very guard perimeter oriented SL action. It might be a good window into seeing how much he can actually make it happen as a part-time PF during the season. I have a feeling Flip thinks Dieng is going to be a big factor in the Wolves playing better this season.

Double-double machine with a swat party every game. That's all I'm asking. I expect the weight will be quite noticeable in his lower body. Maybe his chest will be a little bigger. Dieng should be our sixth man in the same way Taj Gibson was for Chicago. First big off the bench. Can play with multiple lineups. Defensive minded, grit-and-grinder.

The star of our SL team needs to be LaVine and/or Muhammad, though.

[12218085 bestfour [enjin:6592537]]

I skimmed a few pages of this thread so my apologies if someone has said something similar to this post but...Hypothetically, if Dieng really has bulked up, and Love is traded, could Flip give Dieng big minutes at the PF spot along side Pek? Flip's offenses typically don't feature many 3-point looks, so I doubt Gorgui's lack of range would be a major issue. Frankly I like the defensive intensity a lineup consisting of Rubio, Robinson, Brewer, Dieng, and Pekovic brings. Not so much as a starting lineup, obviously, but an end of game group that can really cause fits.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

I skimmed a few pages of this thread so my apologies if someone has said something similar to this post but...Hypothetically, if Dieng really has bulked up, and Love is traded, could Flip give Dieng big minutes at the PF spot along side Pek? Flip's offenses typically don't feature many 3-point looks, so I doubt Gorgui's lack of range would be a major issue. Frankly I like the defensive intensity a lineup consisting of Rubio, Robinson, Brewer, Dieng, and Pekovic brings. Not so much as a starting lineup, obviously, but an end of game group that can really cause fits.

Flip said it's something he think Dieng could be capable of and will toy with it during Summer League. Said he has the ability to guard on the perimeter. Also said he defines what position a player is/can play by who they can guard. Not word-for-word, but pretty much a summary.

[worldK]

I skimmed a few pages of this thread so my apologies if someone has said something similar to this post but...Hypothetically, if Dieng really has bulked up, and Love is traded, could Flip give Dieng big minutes at the PF spot along side Pek? Flip's offenses typically don't feature many 3-point looks, so I doubt Gorgui's lack of range would be a major issue. Frankly I like the defensive intensity a lineup consisting of Rubio, Robinson, Brewer, Dieng, and Pekovic brings. Not so much as a starting lineup, obviously, but an end of game group that can really cause fits.

Flip said it's something he think Dieng could be capable of and will toy with it during Summer League. Said he has the ability to guard on the perimeter. Also said he defines what position a player is/can play by who they can guard. Not word-for-word, but pretty much a summary.

I do think you can play pek and dieng together. Defensively, dieng can play pf and he wont be any worse than love. Spurs started duncan and splitter together and I see dieng to be on par with them in terms of mobility, laterally and athletic wise. Plus, he cant be any worse than love is on d.

Will flip experiment on it? Im sure he will. Remember flip once started a lineup of kg at 3, loren woods at 4 and rasho at 5? He went with that at the beginning of the season and it lasted for a while. He also routinely started kg, joe smith and rasho together. And back in 2003 when wally was hurt at the beginning, he went a few games with a frontline of kg, madsen and olowokandi.

My point is flip isnt afraid to go with two centers at the same time and dieng can actually shoot the midrange jumpshot and we've seen pek take and make a number of those last season as well. As long as they can play together on d, flip wont mind playing them together on offense.

[KiwiMatt]

There is no reason Dieng can't play minutes at PF. He actually has a good midrange game, and defensively he could be a lethal weak side shot blocker next to Pek.

If Love's still here next season I would like to see Flip use a 3 man rotation of Love, Pek and Dieng up front with Turiaf as cover.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

I agree with the consensus here that Dieng can play some PF, and even will be a big upgrade from Love defensively at the 4 (rebounding aside). With his adding muscle this offseason, Dieng and Love are almost identical size (Dieng one inch taller) and clearly is more athletic with much quicker feet and hands. Not to mention he demonstrates much more hustle and interest on defense than Kevin. And as Kiwi mentions, Dieng adds a weakside shotblocking element that Kevin doesn't have. We lose a lot offensively because Love is the best offensive PF in the NBA, but we gain defensively.

I still hope that Dieng is the starting center though this year, and gets most of his minutes there. Most of the rumored Love deals include a PF in return who would immediately become our starting PF. And I'm still hoping that Flip can pick up a starting wing in exchange for Pek, leaving all the center minutes to Dieng and Turiaf. I think Gortat's new contract makes other GMs see Pek's contract in a more favorable light, giving Flip more options if he chooses to move him.