Timberwolves’ Season Grades

Gorgui Dieng: B

It’s no secret that the Wolves had some trash defense this season. If there was anyone that sometimes played good defense it was Gorgui Dieng.

He’s a role player with a big role that he does perfectly. All that the team really needs from him is about 12 points, seven or eight rebounds, and to play some defense in the paint.

Those expectations are exactly what he has done this season. He’s a great player for the Wolves to have because he knows his role and does exactly what is needed from him.

He also plays well along Karl-Anthony Towns. With both of them on the floor, it gave the Timberwolves two legit seven-footers.

Considering both Dieng and Towns’ ability to pass and shoot the ball they presented a lot of matchup problems for opposing teams.

Gorgui Dieng is an above-average passer for a center as well. He averaged almost the same amount of assists per 36 minutes (2.1) as Andrew Wiggins (2.2).

Overall, this was Dieng’s worse defensive year according to advanced metrics. Both his Defensive Rating (110) and Defensive Box Plus/Minus (2.2) were the lowest of his career.

However, a lot of that can be contributed to the players around him. He was asked to clean up a lot of the weak defense the guards in front of him played.

Overall, Dieng knows his role for the Timberwolves and plays within his limitations, earning him a B.