Minnesota Timberwolves: 5 Trade Ideas for Gorgui Dieng

The Minnesota Timberwolves are out of cap space so they must trade for or sign low-end players to fill out the rest of the roster. Here are five trade ideas for Gorgui Dieng that the Timberwolves should consider.

This wasn’t easy by any means. I personally enjoy having Gorgui Dieng on this Minnesota Timberwolves’ team because he does so many things that get overlooked. He plays good defense, rebounds well, gets others involved and does a lot of the little things.

Not only was it hard looking at that aspect, but you add in all these different aspects of the trade and things get really complicated. Meaning money and deciding whether or not it’s an even trade. All of these trades are successful trade ideas, thanks to the help of ‘ESPN’s Trade Machine‘.

Dieng’s new contract will kick in this upcoming season – set at about $14 million per year. He was generous enough to sign a contract-friendly deal this past season to a four-year, $62 million deal.

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With little cap space available, close to $1-3 million left, the Timberwolves are flirting with the idea of signing low-end players to fill out the rest of the roster.

It’s not necessarily a bad thing, but, the team already has a depleted bench. I will say signing Taj Gibson and Jamal Crawford has helped tremendously. There is still need in this area though.

With the Timberwolves looking to add three-point shooting, wing depth and another point guard, a lot of these trades are based on helping these issues.

These trades are just hypothetical looks at possible solutions to the team’s issues. I don’t believe they will trade the power forward, but it’s always something fun to play around with. Especially with the kind of off-season the team has put together.

This trade makes a lot of sense for both teams. Let’s take a look at the Denver Nuggets side first.

Denver would love this trade because they are getting a solid bench player behind Nikola Jokic and Paul Millsap. It would be a great opportunity for Dieng to learn behind one of the best power forwards in the game in Millsap.

Kenneth Faried has been in trade talks, and Miles Plumlee is a free agent as of now. They do have a good amount of big’s on the roster, but clearly, Dieng would be the first man up.

The Nuggets also have a lot of guards on their team. Including Will Barton, they also have Malik Beasley, Gary Harris, Jamal Murray and Wilson Chandler.

This would give the Nuggets the ability to make room for their young talented guards. Malik Beasley (2016 first rounder) has been tearing it up in summer lea e, and should be in the running for a lot of playing time.

Jamal Murray has been playing at a high level, and Garry Harris has been playing well too. This gives the Nuggets the ability to upgrade depth behind the front court and open up playing time for their young talented wings.

For the Timberwolves side of things, they will be getting a solid backup power forward behind Taj Gibson. Darrell Arthur is a good option because he has the ability to stretch the floor. He shot the ball from beyond the arc at a scorching 45 percent. Granted he only shot the 3-ball about three times a game. But, with the Wolves lacking 3-point shooting, he would be given the green light to shoot it whenever from deep.

Arthur just 29-years-old, averaged 6.4 points a game and 2.7 rebounds a game.

Will Barton is a talented young wing that has the ability to light it up from anywhere. Barton is 26-years-old and averaged 13.7 points a game, 3.4 assists, 4.3 rebounds, 37 percent from three.

The ability to come off the bench and light it up will be a great addition for this team, as they lacked bench output. The other huge piece to look at here is his ability to shoot the three ball. Shooting the ball almost four times a game, and at a rate of 37 percent will be a huge addition.

Both these players should greatly help the bench issues and the create floor spacing. This seems like a win-win for both teams.

Minnesota Timberwolves Receive: Eric Gordon

New York Knicks Receive: Evan Turner, Gorgui Dieng, Houston Rocket’s 2019 first round pick

Houston Rockets Receive: Carmelo Anthony

Portland Trailblazers Receive: Trevor Ariza, Isaiah Taylor

Okay, deep breath…are you ready? It’s going to get crazy, but bare with me. I’ll explain why all four teams want to do this trade.

The Timberwolves will accept their end of the trade because of Gordon’s ability to score the ball. It would only clear up $2 million dollars but it’s still $2 million more then they have now. Especially with the team lacking any sort of money.

But Gordon has the ability to shoot the ball. At 28-years-old, he averaged 16 points a game, about 2 assists and rebounds, and shot 37 percent from deep. He shot the  3-ball 8 times a game and still managed the 37 percent. Did I mention he won the 3-point contest this year?

Just take a look at this year’s six man of the year three-point stats.

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table

This is exactly what the team needs. This also gives them the ability to sign a solid backup power forward with the rest of the money left.

The New York Knicks have been the center of talks with the idea of Carmelo Anthony wanting to get traded.

This gives the team the ability to hit the reset button.

They will receive two young players and a first round pick. Evan Turner (28) and Dieng (27) will be great additions to the team. Courtney Lee isn’t going to be apart of the future much longer so you might as well start somewhere. All of the sudden with this trade, the team’s future is a lot brighter. You’re seeing a team with Tim Hardaway Jr., newly pick Frank Ntilikina, Kristsaps Porzingis, Gorgui Dieng and two first round picks counting their first rounder and the one they are receiving.

Houston’s side is easy to see. They want Carmelo Anthony and that’s who they get in this trade. It’s as simple as that. Giving Houston a scary Chris Paul-James Harden-Anthony starting line-up.

Now let’s look at Portland’s side of things. It’s no secret that Portland is struggling because they have no cap space available. They trade Evan Turner because his contract is too expensive for them to handle – a deal with 3-years remaining and about $17 million per year.

Receiving a cheaper contract with Trevor Ariza allows the team to open up a lot more cap space. Out if this trade, they should free up close to $10 million. Ariza is a better player then Turner which already is a plus for this team. Adding Isiah Taylor is more of a money balance thing, but it’s not a bad thing for Portland. Considering they have no backup point guard behind Damian Lillard, because Shabazz Napier never see’s court time.

Minnesota Timberwolves Receive: Markieff Morris, Rodney Hood

Washington Wizards Receive: Gorgui Dieng, Minnesota’s 2020 second round pick

Utah Jazz Receive: Tomas Satoransky, Shelvin Mack, Minnesota’s 2018 second round pick

Adding Markieff Morris isn’t necessarily an upgrade for the Wolves because they are both good players. But, they play different games and that’s why the Timberwolves value this trade.

Morris, is an athletic power forward that would be able to give the Timberwolves an up-tempo pace. At just 27 – he averaged 14 points a game, 6.5 rebounds, 36 percent from three and 1.1 steals.

Not only will he help out with scoring but he can shoot the ball from deep. Something the team needs badly. But, he also plays defense – another aspect this team and Thibs will embrace.

Adding Rodney Hood is a big addition for this team because he also can shoot the ball. He’s a talented young man at just 24-years of age. He averaged 12.7 points per game and shot a 37 percent from deep on five attempts. That alone explains why the team will love to have Hood.

However, they give up two second round picks. Not many roster players come from the second round, so they aren’t losing too much there. Especially if they add these players, mixed in with the other talented players on this roster; Minnesota will likely see themselves picking at the very end of the last round.

Washington Accepts this trade because they already have an influx amount of scorers already on this team. Gorgui will add great defense, solid play that gets the three core guys of Wall, Beal and Porter in the game.

Dieng is a smart player that should be a solid addition to this talented team. Something that will be very valuable when this team is making a deep playoff run. Not to mention they add a cheap draft pick. Something they will need with all three of those core players demanding a lot of money.

Utah’s side is a little more complicated to see. But the do receive a cheap second round pick to save money and hopefully try to rebuild that team with the loss of Gordon Hayward.

Adding players like Satoransky and Mack should be a good thing for this team. They add two young players that will be cheap additions to the team. Hood was likely to draw a good amount of money for his ability to shoot the ball. But He doesn’t seem to really fit their long term situation. So adding cheap options now gives Utah the ability to grab big free agents to build around Ricky Rubio and Rudy Gobert.

Minnesota’s side is easy to see. They get rid of Cole Aldrich’s awful contract and that alone should free up some cap space for Minnesota to make other moves.

They add two 3-point shooters with Mathews and Curry.

Mathew is 30 years old and has had some injury issues. That part is concerning if this team wants to make a deep run in the playoffs. But they should value his 3-ball. He shot it 36 percent from deep on 6 attempts per game.

He would be a good addition to the bench as he averaged 13.5 points a game and 3.5 rebounds a game. Dallas has also been shopping the nine-year vet. A team they tried to trade with was Minnesota actually.

Seth Curry put together a great season last year. the 26-year-old guard from Duke orchestrated 12.8 points a game and shooting a lights out 42 percent from three on four attempts.

Dallas would be willing to part ways with the shooter because they are now loaded with point guards. They have Devin Harris, Yogi Ferrell, J.J. Barea, and newly-drafted Denis Smith Jr. – creating a log jam.

Smith Jr. looks like the real deal through Summer League, and he should be the long term option at the position.

Dallas views this as a good trade because once Dirk Nowitzki leaves, they are left starring at a gaping hole of direction. Dirk isn’t playing at the same rate as he was ten years ago, but he is the identity of the team.

Gorgui would be able to learn from one of the greatest players at his position over the next two years. This would help Dallas fix some long term questions at the position as they aren’t really stacked at this position. Gorgui would be a great addition to this team. If Dallas resigns Nerlens Noel, it would cause some spacing issues, but, for now learning under Dirk is priority number one.

Cole Aldrich is just another big man added to this roster, but is more so for balancing money and creating this an even trade.

The TTimberwolvesget what they wanted! 3-point shooting, defense and wing depth. It’s the whole package they could ever dream for. So let’s get started.

Minnesota needs to accept this offer because Jae Crowder immediately would be a scoring 3-point shooter and a huge defensive addition to this team. He is extremely built, at 6-foot-6 and 235 lb. – Crowder can push around anyone.

The five-year vet out of Marquette averaged almost 14 points a game and 5.8 rebounds a game, shooting at a scorching 39 percent on 5 attempts a game. This is exactly what the team needs. Depth on the wing/forward position and someone who can shoot the ball.

He was known for his defense before rounding out his game on the offensive side. Playing good defense and stealing the ball at least once a game. His toughness will be a great addition to this team. He also knows how to make big shots – playing in some big playoff games.

There have been talks that Crowder and newly signed Hayward have beef with each other. So sending him out of Boston may be a good thing as it may cause some issues down the line.

Another big thing for the Wolves is adding tough minded point guard Marcus Smart. Minnesota is looking to add depth behind newly signed Jeff Teague. Smart plays outstanding defense. He’s a pest that will push you around with his 6-foot-4 frame and 220 lb body.

He’s not afraid to get in anyone’s face and grind it out. Something this ‘Minnesota Nice’ team from last year desperately needs.

Averaging 1.6 steals a game – Smart is a big defensive guy. But not only does he play defense, he also get involved on the offensive side of things. Averaging 10.6 points a game, 4.6 assists and 3.9 rebounds a game. Though his three ball is questionable – averaging 28 percent. But he is the real deal everywhere else.

Boston easily accepts this because it’s Danny Ainge. What is something he values most? Draft picks. Receiving a first and second round pick is something too sweet to overlook. Ainge loves packaging all these draft picks to eventually trade away for a big name player. That alone explains Bostons side of things.

Boston lacks front-court depth. They have Al Horford and that’s about it. They received Marcus Morris in a trade but there are talks that he may be suspended for an assault back in his Phoenix Suns days.

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But after that the area is of need is slim. Adding Gorgui Dieng is another yes-please for Boston. With so much talent around him in Boston, Gorgui should excel nicely.