A Change of Scenery Could be the Best Thing to Happen to Gorgui Dieng this Offseason

For the first time in a while, several former Louisville basketball stars have had great success on the court in the NBA. However, one former Card needs to find a new home, one way or another.

As Louisville basketball fans, we are used to being disappointed because our former stars don’t find a home in the NBA and typically end up overseas. For the record, there is nothing wrong with that. Peyton Siva was just named All-First Team in the German BBL. Russ Smith scored 65 points per game in a Chinese League a few months ago. Guys like Larry O’Bannon, Trey Lewis, Samardo Samuels, Terrence Jennings, and plenty of others have had long and successful careers in others leagues, but it’s still not what fans had hoped for. Many Louisville greats end up having good careers elsewhere, but unfortunately, few make it in the NBA.

This season, former Cards Terry Rozier and Donovan Mitchell balled out in the NBA, doing things no other Louisville player has ever done at the next level. Montrezl Harrell played a significant role off the bench for the Clippers, and should be ready to cash in this summer as a free agent. Even Damion Lee received significant playing time for the Hawks down the stretch. But one former Cardinal who was a top 20 draft pick saw his role decrease significantly this season.

After averaging nearly a double-double in his first season of a 4-year, $64 million extension with the Minnesota Timberwolves, second year coach Tom Thibodeau made the decision this season to play Dieng in a smaller role off the bench. Dieng was looked over in favor of star big man Karl-Anthony Towns, and veteran big man Taj Gibson.

Mutual partings have become more and more common across the NBA, and for the Timberwolves and fifth year center Gorgui Dieng, the time may be now. That’s why Dieng is one player who I believe needs to find a new home within the NBA. And I believe that can happen this offseason.

Anyone who knows me knows I am a HUGE Gorgui fan. Head coach Tom Thibodeau has not done anything to help the big man’s career since arriving last year. Thibodeau likes to play his starters as many minutes as possible, meaning his reserves see very few minutes.

So for the first time time since his rookie season Dieng played less than 27 minutes per game, which was the reason for his rather eye popping stats decrease.

2016-2017: 82 games started (32.4 minutes per game). 10.0 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 1.2 bpg
2017-2018: 79 games, 0 started (16.9 minutes per game). 5.9 ppg, 4.6 rpg, .5 bpg

When you take a step back and look at his 2017-18 statistics through that lens, you see that he produced similarly to the last few seasons, where he looked like a starting center.

Per 36 minutes, Gorgui was actual slightly better this season. In 2017, he averaged 11.1 points and 8.8 boards per 36 minutes, and this season he averaged 12.7 points and 9.7 rebounds. His game significantly improved away from the basket, as he shot a career high 50% from outside of the paint, according to NBASavant.com.

This season, Gorgui’s average shot distance was from a career high 12.4 feet from the basket. His field goal percentage from 10-16 feet was a team leading 54.2%. From behind the arc, Gorgui shot a respectable 31% this season.

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For comparison, Al Horford of the Boston Celtics and Gorgui’s per 36 minutes stats are virtually even. Horford shot better from 3-point range, but he’s also a 10 year vet.

This season, Gorgui made $14.1 million, 3rd most on his team, and is under contract through the 2020-2021 season. The $64 million deal that the Wolves extended to Gorgui in 2016, was a bit high at the time. But now in 2018, with the salary cap at it’s highest in NBA history, the fifth year center could be one of the best bargains in the entire NBA, based off his production from the past two seasons.

According to BasketballReference.com’s 2017-18 NBA Player Contracts Gorgui Dieng is the 81st highest paid player in the NBA and, most importantly, the 19th highest paid “traditional” center.

Ahead of him are several players who got lucky at the right time and received big contracts, but haven’t been able to provide anywhere near the same level of production. That list includes names like Joakim Noah, Bismack Biyombo, Ian Mahinmi, Tristan Thompson, and Timofey Mozgov.

Though his production has slipped, not by his own fault, the Timberwolves could easily move Dieng and receive some value back in return. With the fact that Thibodeau plays his starters more, relying on his bench less than any other coach in the NBA, moving Dieng for a more “niche” player could be smart.

If the T-Wolves look to continue their rebuilding process, they will likely want to figure out how to extend Jimmy Butler and Karl Anthony Towns, adding to Andrew Wiggins who they have locked up through the 2022-2023 season, meaning that getting $64 off the books could be of importance moving forward.

It became apparent that after signing veteran and former Chicago Bull Taj Gibson last season, that he would likely move into the starting lineup, which he did, and play many of the minutes that Dieng did previously, which he also did.

If Gibson still continues his lock down of the minutes at the 4 spot, I see the T-Wolves trying to trade Gorgui to another team for more pieces. I believe Gorgui could be a starter in the league, and a pretty good one at that. Teams that could have interest in upgrading their center spot include San Antonio, Portland, Brooklyn, Cleveland, LAC, and many others.

Next: Rozier And Mitchell Could Be Chris Mack's Best Recruiters

Don’t be surprised to see former Card Gorgui Dieng on the move this offseason. At this point in his career that may be the best thing to happen to him. We’d like to see him get more playing time, whether it’s in Minnesota or not.

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