The Minnesota Timberwolves have reportedly signed big man Gorgui Dieng to a contract extension. His new deal will be worth $64 million over four years.
Shams Charania of The Vertical broke the news on Monday evening:
Minnesota forward Gorgui Dieng is finalizing a four-year, $64 million contract extension, league sources tell The Vertical.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 31, 2016
Timberwolves Sign Gorgui Dieng to Extension
Dieng’s new contract will start kicking in for the 2017-18 season, and it’ll take him through the 2020-21 season. The big man has started alongside Karl-Anthony Towns in the frontcourt in each of Minnesota’s first two games this season. Dieng has averaged 13 points, 13.5 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game over that span. The scoring and rebounding totals would be career highs for Dieng, if he were to keep them up over the course of a full season.
Dieng averaged 10.1 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game last season for the Timberwolves. He played 27.1 minutes per game, appearing in all 82 of Minnesota’s contests. The big man looks to remain a starter throughout the current season, as he started just 39 games last year.
Although Dieng himself is 26 years old – close to his prime years – he is still part of the Timberwolves’ bright young core. That group includes Kris Dunn, Zach LaVine, Andrew Wiggins, and the aforementioned Towns (as well as Ricky Rubio, but he may be traded).
For now, Dieng and the Timberwolves aim to make the playoffs for the first time since 2004. They are led by their new head coach, Tom Thibodeau.
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