Dieng likely to declare

[Tr1boy]

http://www.projectspurs.com/2013-articles/march/gorgui-dieng-likely-to-declare-would-make-a-great-spur.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpxLbcI_fQY

i'll be honest, i don't know too much about this guy. But analyzing his game log stats and watching clips of him, i'm very intrigued by what he brings to the table. As you see the clip, he has elite mobility for a big guy, agile, strength and at only 6'10 but huge wingspan from 7'4-7'6. I also like the fact he comes from a good program and is playing under a hard nosed coach in Pitino. But i'm not falling for a raw project like Melo again and even though Dieng can't be considered a finished product (only 4-5 years org basketball) , i see a c for heavens sake that can rebound avg 10 (has had multiple 12 plus rebound games), and has decent BBIQ (using headfakes on offense, o/s passing skills as examples).

But with everything he has going, he is not considered lotto bound bc again he has only played 5 years of org basketball (the feel is not natural) and offense is inconsistent. Shooting only about 520 fg percentage is decent but it usually drops about 50 points in the nba, which is not the best fg percentage for a pf/c.

But as you read the link above, the spurs writer hopes they can jump on this guy if he drops to them. They do have a very good structured team and he can become a better player under Duncan. But we have a very good team and KG could teach him a thing or two also.  Worse case , we get a more skilled Ezeli. Best case a Jermaine Oneil during his prime days.

Anyone who is fan of louville or watched him during games can say more about his game? Would he fit in with the celts system?? Can he help out sooner than later??

If he is good as i think he is and can be, plus is not a big project like Melo and can even help out next year, I would feel really happy to steal him away from the spurs

[fitzhickey]

I want him, has potential physically as well as skill

[CelticsFan9]

The guy, like you said, needs more consistency on the jumper, needs to add some more weight, but other than that, he should be fine.  He probably needs a year AT MOST before he can start contributing for us.

Dieng would be a great weak-side defender, as his shot-blocking instincts are great.  His rebounding is very good as well.

I think he could be very similar to Festus Ezeli, but with more athleticism.  Great comparison.

[Tr1boy]

The guy, like you said, needs more consistency on the jumper, needs to add some more weight, but other than that, he should be fine.  He probably needs a year AT MOST before he can start contributing for us.

Dieng would be a great weak-side defender, as his shot-blocking instincts are great.  His rebounding is very good as well.

I think he could be very similar to Festus Ezeli, but with more athleticism.  Great comparison.

more athleticism and skill. Maybe like a Ezeli/Jermaine Oneil in his prime hybrid. He has a body of a top 5 pick, and if he can put it together on a regular basis, skills of someone drafted by the lotto.  The other bad thing i forgot to mention is that he is already 23, so there are questions of how much more can he learn.

[Who]

How athletic is Dieng?

His finishing around the basket didn't look great in that short video clip above. It looked like he had nice end to end and lateral quickness plus very good overall mobility for a center but maybe lacking in (vertical) explosiveness.

There wasn't enough in the video clip to make a firm judgement though. So how athletic is Dieng compared to (starting) NBA centers?

[MBz]

He can run and he's a very good shot blocker.  He probably has a good vert, but he's not a quick leaper.

[Tr1boy]

He can run and he's a very good shot blocker.  He probably has a good vert, but he's not a quick leaper.

I know if you are like a 6'8 pf , quick leaps, long wingspan are necessary to compete with taller guys. But Deng is a decent 6'10 height with a crazy 7'4-7'7 wingspan. So quick or super high leaps are not mandatory vs boxing out properly for rebounds or improving reaction times to grab balls once it misses the basket. Dieng from his rebounding numbers i'm sure will be a very decent rebounder in the nba. Its not like Melo who with his height, athleticm , can't rebound if his life depended on it

[kgfor3]

Louisville fan here:

Dieng's offensive game has really improved this year. He has added several low post moves and can hit the FT line jumper, although consistency is an issue. Excellent shot blocker and rebounder and an above average passer for his size.

He isn't very explosive and he doesn't get up and down the floor very quick.

Pitino has always commented how coachable he is and that he is a very quick learner. Speaks 5 different languages.

I think he has a good shot of being a role player in the NBA. 

[Tr1boy]

Louisville fan here:

Dieng's offensive game has really improved this year. He has added several low post moves and can hit the FT line jumper, although consistency is an issue. Excellent shot blocker and rebounder and an above average passer for his size.

He isn't very explosive and he doesn't get up and down the floor very quick.

Pitino has always commented how coachable he is and that he is a very quick learner. Speaks 5 different languages.

I think he has a good shot of being a role player in the NBA.

Thanks man for a nice detail update. But i'm sort of lost that he can't get up and down the floor that great. That actually looks like one of his strengths plus lateral quickness. Does he get tired easily?

In your opinion why do you think at his peak, he could only really be a role player in the nba??

[kgfor3]

Louisville fan here:

Dieng's offensive game has really improved this year. He has added several low post moves and can hit the FT line jumper, although consistency is an issue. Excellent shot blocker and rebounder and an above average passer for his size.

He isn't very explosive and he doesn't get up and down the floor very quick.

Pitino has always commented how coachable he is and that he is a very quick learner. Speaks 5 different languages.

I think he has a good shot of being a role player in the NBA.

Thanks man for a nice detail update. But i'm sort of lost that he can't get up and down the floor that great. That actually looks like one of his strengths plus lateral quickness. Does he get tired easily?

In your opinion why do you think at his peak, he could only really be a role player in the nba??

Dieng is usually the last one up the court on a break, but this is probably to be expected as he's usually on the back line of the defense. I'll put it this way Chris Wilcox is someone who I think really gets out on the fast break, runs straight to the rim and looks for the lob. Dieng isn't going to give you that.

As far as him being a role player, could he develop into something more? Sure. But my guess is him being a role player in the NBA is a safe bet. Like many Africans he's only been playing ball for 6 or 7 years now, so who knows how much more potential is out there.

[hwangjini_1]

just adding to the good points above.

the guy looks really thin in the video. would he be able to battle for rebounds in the nba? or would larger, stronger pf and c simply push him aside?

i am not saying this eliminates him as a nba player, only that it may define his role a particular way.

[Tr1boy]

just adding to the good points above.

the guy looks really thin in the video. would he be able to battle for rebounds in the nba? or would larger, stronger pf and c simply push him aside?

i am not saying this eliminates him as a nba player, only that it may define his role a particular way.

I wouldn't say rail thin. Austin and JJJ are rail thin.  Dieng is actually thicker than Noel and Anthoney Davis. He is wiry strong like KG, but def could add 5 to 10 more pounds of muscle. In today's nba he will be fine as either pf/c. If Sully is on the court, he will be more of a pf, and he has enough quickness and length to be able to guard them.

Watching him since the tourney started, he has been very efficient and focusing in helping his team win vs taking over. I guess this is hard to do when you got a Russ Smith that takes a ton of shot for your team. But when he has had to ball , he is making the safe plays and the ball is going in. Also blocking /altering shots, rebounding, and taking charges. He has tremendous and deceptive foot speed to recover or challenge block shots. The way he changes speed is similiar to the way AB does it. Conserve but agressively accelerate in a blink of an eye. Different than a guy like Mitch Macgary who looks like his motor will burn out, running around like a headless chicken.

Overall, i'm a fan of Withey and Dieng and would be ok drafting either if we are going for a big. But in the nba bc of the three 3nd rule inside the paint , i'd have to give an edge to dieng in terms of not parking in the paint, helping out on the weakside, but still able to recover and handle his own man or block other players shots.   

If we draft Dieng i would trade Melo in a second, even for a top 2013/2014 2nd round pick. I see Dieng having a higher bbiq and not parked in nbdl forever.