The Minnesota Timberwolves have their front-line star of the future in Karl-Anthony Towns.
They also have a center they like next to him in Gorgui Dieng. He can hit midrange shots on offense (allowing him and Towns to space the floor and not clog the lane), block shots on defense, and is a solid fit next to Karl-Anthony Towns.
So the Timberwolves have locked Dieng up, report Marc Spears of The Undefeated at ESPN (since confirmed by other reports).
Wolves nearing an agreement on a four-year, $64 million contract extension with C Gorgui Dieng, source The Undefeated.
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) October 31, 2016
In a world where Steven Adams and Rudy Gobert break the $100 million extension, getting a solid rotation player in Dieng for $16 million a year (on average) is about right. The going rate for starters in the NBA in this new CBA is going to be around $15 million, and Dieng is a starter.
It’s going to take the right player to be next to Towns, and Dieng’s ability to finish inside or hit from the midrange makes him one of those guys. The Timberwolves have a great young core, it’s smart to lock them up.