Minnesota Sports Forum

I would try to sign him to a declining deal, something like 15, 14, 13, 12

The Spurs haven't been a contender for two decades by signing bench players to big money deals. They got their top 3-5 players and supplement them with quality, but reasonably priced bench and situational players, both through free agency and the draft. Is Dieng that kind of player? I don't know, but I think a 6th MOY type of player can easily be one of those top 3-5 players even while not being a starter.

I like G's fire, I love his offensive game and would certainly like to see what Thibs can do with him on the defensive end, be that off the bench or in a starting role if that best suits him.

Camden wrote:I just don't see how paying Gorgui Dieng $16M per year right now is a wise move. He started 39 games this year and had success, but is that enough for you to offer him $64M over four years? To me, it isn't and I really don't want to have a $16M player coming off my bench, which is again where I feel he's best suited. Not to mention the Wolves don't have to extend him this summer, so if Dieng is looking for that financial security he'd need to understand that the Wolves don't have to make a move. They'd only do so if it's favorable for them, which is why around $10M per ($12M per, whatever, not my money) makes sense if something were to get done.

39 games as a starter: 12.5 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.4 BPG in 31.1 MPG.

"Solid" is a very accurate description of Gorgui, but man, I get really uneasy about paying guys big money when the market is littered with other solid players that could potentially replace him.

Sure, 16M sounds high, 10M sounds low. I don't know what the right number is, but someone in the front office needs to put a value on him and then not go past it. Locking him in for a few years in the prime of his career makes sense at the right price.

TheSP wrote:The Spurs haven't been a contender for two decades by signing bench players to big money deals. They got their top 3-5 players and supplement them with quality, but reasonably priced bench and situational players, both through free agency and the draft. Is Dieng that kind of player? I don't know, but I think a 6th MOY type of player can easily be one of those top 3-5 players even while not being a starter.

I like G's fire, I love his offensive game and would certainly like to see what Thibs can do with him on the defensive end, be that off the bench or in a starting role if that best suits him.

True, but the Spurs are unique. Buford and Pop have been the dynamic duo for years and have proven that they can unearth diamonds in the rough and then polish them up. Plus, their "big three" are now signing cheap contracts out of loyalty, which gives them a unique advantage to maintain incredible continuity and depth, while freeing up cap space to get guys like Aldridge on board.

Camden wrote:I just don't see how paying Gorgui Dieng $16M per year right now is a wise move. He started 39 games this year and had success, but is that enough for you to offer him $64M over four years? To me, it isn't and I really don't want to have a $16M player coming off my bench, which is again where I feel he's best suited. Not to mention the Wolves don't have to extend him this summer, so if Dieng is looking for that financial security he'd need to understand that the Wolves don't have to make a move. They'd only do so if it's favorable for them, which is why around $10M per ($12M per, whatever, not my money) makes sense if something were to get done.

39 games as a starter: 12.5 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.4 BPG in 31.1 MPG.

"Solid" is a very accurate description of Gorgui, but man, I get really uneasy about paying guys big money when the market is littered with other solid players that could potentially replace him.

Cam, whose numbers are these?

9.4 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 1.0 APG, 1.7 BPG in 23.2 MPG

That's right, Derrick Favors as a 3rd year player. Dieng is further ahead. You will say he played less minutes and Dieng was older, but his numbers were still very comparable to Dieng's when Favors was a 4th year player with over 30 MPG.

I'm pretty sure you would give Favors the max right now, but in 6 years in the league he's never averaged more than 16.4/8.7. Dieng isn't that far behind today.

CoolBreeze44 wrote:

Camden wrote:I just don't see how paying Gorgui Dieng $16M per year right now is a wise move. He started 39 games this year and had success, but is that enough for you to offer him $64M over four years? To me, it isn't and I really don't want to have a $16M player coming off my bench, which is again where I feel he's best suited. Not to mention the Wolves don't have to extend him this summer, so if Dieng is looking for that financial security he'd need to understand that the Wolves don't have to make a move. They'd only do so if it's favorable for them, which is why around $10M per ($12M per, whatever, not my money) makes sense if something were to get done.

39 games as a starter: 12.5 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.4 BPG in 31.1 MPG.

"Solid" is a very accurate description of Gorgui, but man, I get really uneasy about paying guys big money when the market is littered with other solid players that could potentially replace him.

Cam, whose numbers are these?

9.4 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 1.0 APG, 1.7 BPG in 23.2 MPG

That's right, Derrick Favors as a 3rd year player. Dieng is further ahead. You will say he played less minutes and Dieng was older, but his numbers were still very comparable to Dieng's when Favors was a 4th year player with over 30 MPG.

I'm pretty sure you would give Favors the max right now, but in 6 years in the league he's never averaged more than 16.4/8.7. Dieng isn't that far behind today.

Are you really trying to argue that Dieng is on par with Favors as a player? I need to be sure that's what you're saying.

Camden wrote:

CoolBreeze44 wrote:

Camden wrote:I just don't see how paying Gorgui Dieng $16M per year right now is a wise move. He started 39 games this year and had success, but is that enough for you to offer him $64M over four years? To me, it isn't and I really don't want to have a $16M player coming off my bench, which is again where I feel he's best suited. Not to mention the Wolves don't have to extend him this summer, so if Dieng is looking for that financial security he'd need to understand that the Wolves don't have to make a move. They'd only do so if it's favorable for them, which is why around $10M per ($12M per, whatever, not my money) makes sense if something were to get done.

39 games as a starter: 12.5 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.4 BPG in 31.1 MPG.

"Solid" is a very accurate description of Gorgui, but man, I get really uneasy about paying guys big money when the market is littered with other solid players that could potentially replace him.

Cam, whose numbers are these?

9.4 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 1.0 APG, 1.7 BPG in 23.2 MPG

That's right, Derrick Favors as a 3rd year player. Dieng is further ahead. You will say he played less minutes and Dieng was older, but his numbers were still very comparable to Dieng's when Favors was a 4th year player with over 30 MPG.

I'm pretty sure you would give Favors the max right now, but in 6 years in the league he's never averaged more than 16.4/8.7. Dieng isn't that far behind today.

Are you really trying to argue that Dieng is on par with Favors as a player? I need to be sure that's what you're saying.

No that's not what I'm arguing. But based on Gorgui's numbers as a starter, I'm making a case that the divide between the two isn't as great as someone might think. And if you think Favors can be a max player, it stands to reason that Gorgui could be worth the numbers being discussed.

There are a few factors at play here.

- Personally, I think Dieng is a borderline NBA starter. Along with others, I think he's best suited as a solid big guy off the bench.
- The Wolves are not a finished product. At all. They lost 53 games... one season removed from losing 66 games... both with Dieng in a key role.
- Not every player is guaranteed to improve every year.
- $50 - 70M is a ridiculous sum of money. But that's just something that's going to be the norm moving forward.
- Thibodeau is coming in with his own ideas and own way of building a team. I doubt he's looking at the 53-loss team like "Yep, everything is in place. I didn't even need to ask for POBO position, we have our 5 starters already."
- Maybe he wants a springier big? More athletic? More long-term potential?
- Maybe he wants a banger down low to ease up the workload on Towns?

I'm not necessarily against a long-term big extension for Dieng (he can always be moved if need be)... but I guess my commentary is to express caution that this team is where it needs to be suddenly with its current roster.

CoolBreeze44 wrote:

Camden wrote:

CoolBreeze44 wrote:

Camden wrote:I just don't see how paying Gorgui Dieng $16M per year right now is a wise move. He started 39 games this year and had success, but is that enough for you to offer him $64M over four years? To me, it isn't and I really don't want to have a $16M player coming off my bench, which is again where I feel he's best suited. Not to mention the Wolves don't have to extend him this summer, so if Dieng is looking for that financial security he'd need to understand that the Wolves don't have to make a move. They'd only do so if it's favorable for them, which is why around $10M per ($12M per, whatever, not my money) makes sense if something were to get done.

39 games as a starter: 12.5 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.4 BPG in 31.1 MPG.

"Solid" is a very accurate description of Gorgui, but man, I get really uneasy about paying guys big money when the market is littered with other solid players that could potentially replace him.

Cam, whose numbers are these?

9.4 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 1.0 APG, 1.7 BPG in 23.2 MPG

That's right, Derrick Favors as a 3rd year player. Dieng is further ahead. You will say he played less minutes and Dieng was older, but his numbers were still very comparable to Dieng's when Favors was a 4th year player with over 30 MPG.

I'm pretty sure you would give Favors the max right now, but in 6 years in the league he's never averaged more than 16.4/8.7. Dieng isn't that far behind today.

Are you really trying to argue that Dieng is on par with Favors as a player? I need to be sure that's what you're saying.

No that's not what I'm arguing. But based on Gorgui's numbers as a starter, I'm making a case that the divide between the two isn't as great as someone might think. And if you think Favors can be a max player, it stands to reason that Gorgui could be worth the numbers being discussed.

Yep. Dieng as a starter this year vs. Horford and Favors (all numbers PER 36):

[table]
[tr]
[th]Player[/th]
[th]Points[/th]
[th]Rebounds[/th]
[th]Blocks[/th]
[th]PER[/th]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Dieng[/td]
[td]14.5[/td]
[td]9.1[/td]
[td]1.6[/td]
[td]19.1[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Horford[/td]
[td]17.1[/td]
[td]8.2[/td]
[td]1.7[/td]
[td]19.4[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Favors[/td]
[td]18.4[/td]
[td]9.1[/td]
[td]1.7[/td]
[td]21.6[/td]
[/tr]
[/table]

Funny how everyone wants dieng to be a bench big when he's proven to be a great starter. We don't need 5 all stars starting.