Minnesota Sports Forum

At what point are the Wolves just shuffling deck chairs by replacing players continually? Sure it would be great if we could trade Pek/Martin and a huge bag of packing peanuts for Klay Thompson, Porzingis, and a still in his prime Michael Jordan, but that isn't going to happen. But if more of these injuries keep happening, we might be able to make a trade or 2, but again, who wants what we have to offer, especially with a lame duck, interim POBO and coach? Stand pat, let the Pups play and hope something happens in the front office that makes the Wolves into a 15 year dynasty.

I was watching the Portland game to catch up on the season and got to thinking...

How is it that we assume Dieng will get paid a ton of money and Ed Davis payday was 3 years 20 million in a summer of spending? Why is Ed Davis so undervalued? I know he doesn't score but it seems odd to me. What makes Dieng worth significantly more (not sure what that number is...) than Ed Davis?

monsterpile wrote:I was watching the Portland game to catch up on the season and got to thinking...

How is it that we assume Dieng will get paid a ton of money and Ed Davis payday was 3 years 20 million in a summer of spending? Why is Ed Davis so undervalued? I know he doesn't score but it seems odd to me. What makes Dieng worth significantly more (not sure what that number is...) than Ed Davis?

Davis is good at what he does, he is a pretty good interior defender. But his range is limited and he's a poor free throw shooter. He is not a replacement for Dieng, but he'd be a decent backup to replace Pek when he gets shelved or Payne if we part ways with him.

I already touched on this in another post, but I don't think they could possibly get better value back for Dieng. He's making $1.5M this year and only $2.3M next year. Since moving into the starting line up with Towns eight games ago he's averaging 16.8 points, 10.1 rebounds and 2.9 assists. Yes, it's only eight games. But I'd like to see how that plays out over a longer period of time aka the rest of this year. If Dieng can be a PF along with Towns and put up anything close to that, I'd prefer to keep him. He'll be due a big raise after next year. But if he's earned it - what's the problem? He led the team in Win Shares last year. This year he's currently third (behind Towns and Rubio), but he's close to over taking Rubio for 2nd with his recent play. I can't see a scenario where they get better value back. Sometimes you are better off standing pat. At worst, we have a very cheap rotational big for next year. If whomever is in charge next year decides he's not worth signing another deal, then move him mid-season.

Carlos Danger wrote:I already touched on this in another post, but I don't think they could possibly get better value back for Dieng. He's making $1.5M this year and only $2.3M next year. Since moving into the starting line up with Towns eight games ago he's averaging 16.8 points, 10.1 rebounds and 2.9 assists. Yes, it's only eight games. But I'd like to see how that plays out over a longer period of time aka the rest of this year. If Dieng can be a PF along with Towns and put up anything close to that, I'd prefer to keep him. He'll be due a big raise after next year. But if he's earned it - what's the problem? He led the team in Win Shares last year. This year he's currently third (behind Towns and Rubio), but he's close to over taking Rubio for 2nd with his recent play. I can't see a scenario where they get better value back. Sometimes you are better off standing pat. At worst, we have a very cheap rotational big for next year. If whomever is in charge next year decides he's not worth signing another deal, then move him mid-season.

Great post.

To consider it from the opposite perspective, can teams negotiate contract extensions before the current contracts have expired? Can they extend Dieng now if they feel his value is only likely to increase?

And even if they can't, as a hypothetical question, would you?

Back in the day, yeah. Now? Occasionally.

Shumway wrote:

Carlos Danger wrote:I already touched on this in another post, but I don't think they could possibly get better value back for Dieng. He's making $1.5M this year and only $2.3M next year. Since moving into the starting line up with Towns eight games ago he's averaging 16.8 points, 10.1 rebounds and 2.9 assists. Yes, it's only eight games. But I'd like to see how that plays out over a longer period of time aka the rest of this year. If Dieng can be a PF along with Towns and put up anything close to that, I'd prefer to keep him. He'll be due a big raise after next year. But if he's earned it - what's the problem? He led the team in Win Shares last year. This year he's currently third (behind Towns and Rubio), but he's close to over taking Rubio for 2nd with his recent play. I can't see a scenario where they get better value back. Sometimes you are better off standing pat. At worst, we have a very cheap rotational big for next year. If whomever is in charge next year decides he's not worth signing another deal, then move him mid-season.

Great post.

To consider it from the opposite perspective, can teams negotiate contract extensions before the current contracts have expired? Can they extend Dieng now if they feel his value is only likely to increase?

And even if they can't, as a hypothetical question, would you?

Shumway - I don't know the rules on that and am too lazy to look up at the moment. I'm sure someone will chime in. But to answer your question, I would wait as long as I could before locking up Dieng with another contract. I just feel like we are in a good situation with him. He's cheap and we are getting great value. I don't feel like we have to rush to do a deal for fear that he's going to be due big money in another year and a half. I think a lot can change in that time. Specifically, a new coach, new GM and another top 5 lotto pick. After those things are locked into place, along with the data we gain from the rest of this year, then I think a good decision can be made on if he should get a new deal or be traded for a better fit.

Shumway wrote:

Carlos Danger wrote:I already touched on this in another post, but I don't think they could possibly get better value back for Dieng. He's making $1.5M this year and only $2.3M next year. Since moving into the starting line up with Towns eight games ago he's averaging 16.8 points, 10.1 rebounds and 2.9 assists. Yes, it's only eight games. But I'd like to see how that plays out over a longer period of time aka the rest of this year. If Dieng can be a PF along with Towns and put up anything close to that, I'd prefer to keep him. He'll be due a big raise after next year. But if he's earned it - what's the problem? He led the team in Win Shares last year. This year he's currently third (behind Towns and Rubio), but he's close to over taking Rubio for 2nd with his recent play. I can't see a scenario where they get better value back. Sometimes you are better off standing pat. At worst, we have a very cheap rotational big for next year. If whomever is in charge next year decides he's not worth signing another deal, then move him mid-season.

Great post.

To consider it from the opposite perspective, can teams negotiate contract extensions before the current contracts have expired? Can they extend Dieng now if they feel his value is only likely to increase?

And even if they can't, as a hypothetical question, would you?

Next year is his fourth year so we have until the end of October to sign him to an extension. After that we have to wait until the summer when we'd restrict him before a new deal could be reached.

How much do you guys think Dieng will or should get for his next contract if we do keep him?

With the cap sky rocketing in the next 2 years, it might be smart to sign him to an extension this october rather than let him be a restricted free agent.

worldK wrote:How much do you guys think Dieng will or should get for his next contract if we do keep him?

With the cap sky rocketing in the next 2 years, it might be smart to sign him to an extension this october rather than let him be a restricted free agent.

At this rate he could probably land 15-18 per year just because teams will have to put in a high offer to try to prevent us from matching. If we could land him at 12 I think that would be a steal compared to the market price he could land.