Towns and Russell were taken Nos. 1 and 2, respectively, in the 2015 NBA draft and have been close friends since high school. Towns is really high on adding Russell, sources said. It would take moving Andrew Wiggins or a combination of Jeff Teague and Gorgui Dieng to open the space needed for Minnesota to sign Russell. The Nets would have two days to match a signed offer sheet to retain Russell.
Gorgui Dieng Rumors
All NBA Players
Position: C
Born: 01/18/90
Height: 6-11 / 2.11
Weight:245 lbs. / 111.1 kg.
Salary: $16,229,213
Born: 01/18/90
Height: 6-11 / 2.11
Weight:245 lbs. / 111.1 kg.
Salary: $16,229,213
22 Jun
Gallery 22 Jun
2013 NBA re-draft: The way it should have been
Two Euro players selected outside of the lottery in the top spots.
Christopher Hine: Gorgui Dieng on going in and out of the rotation this season: “It’s tough, but it makes you stronger, right? I’ve been through this before and I’m back at it again. … The worst part is you’re not ready and when they call you, you can’t play the way they need you.”
Gorgui Dieng missed the Timberwolves’ first two games out of the All-Star break because of personal reasons. When he came rejoined, Dieng was out of the rotation. The backup center has not played in any of the past three games, including Thursday night’s 122-115 loss to the Indiana Pacers, even though he was healthy. Dieng’s benching was a call interim coach Ryan Saunders made.
The writing was on the wall before the All-Star break as Dieng played only 1 minute, 50 seconds in a victory over the Rockets. Saunders said he had a conversation with Dieng before slashing his playing time. ‘It’s not going to be every game …” Saunders said. “Until further notice this is how I’m going, why we feel it’s best for the team at the moment, but as always we’re professionals and we should all be ready.”
“I’ve been doubted my whole life,” Dieng said. “I’m used to it, but this time it’s different. You put the team first and whatever we can to help this team we will do it.”
