While the Brooklyn Nets picked up their first win with Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving all in the starting lineup against the Miami Heat, the fact that they almost blew a huge fourth-quarter lead speaks to the fact that their painful lack of depth in the frontcourt has yet to be addressed in a significant fashion.
With the signing of Norvel Pelle a wholly inadequate answer in an attempt to address Brooklyn’s thin roster, the Nets need to hope that a quality starter ends up getting bought out.
One such player who could end up as a free agent is veteran big man Gorgui Dieng, who has been losing playing time with the Memphis Grizzlies following the emergence of rookie Xavier Tillman.
birthday buckets, ya hear me?
— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) January 18, 2021
8⃣off the bench for @GorguiDieng https://t.co/kuGLNCn5xs pic.twitter.com/ufztPQGOGb
Gorgui Dieng has everything that the Nets could want out of a big man.
Dieng, who made a name for himself as an expert rebounder with the Minnesota Timberwolves, is averaging 8.1 points and 4.4 rebounds per game, a slight downturn from his career average of 6.1 boards per game. While his 1.0 blocks per game may not make him seem like a defensive showstopper, the Grizzlies are averaging just 104 points allowed per 100 possessions when he is on the floor, a number that shows Memphis’ defense gets notably better when he is on the floor.
Early in his career, Dieng was useless outside of the paint. As he has evolved, the 31-year-old has become an excellent shooter. Nearly half of his shots come from beyond the arc, and he’s making them at an absurd 44 percent clip. Not only is he able to venture outside of the paint, unlike Jordan, but he is clearly a better defender than the former rebounding champ. He could instantly make that second unit one teams will finally start to fear.
The Nets need to be the biggest Xavier Tillman fans in the world over the next few weeks, as the former Michigan State star continuing to impress in Memphis could help accelerate a Dieng buyout. If he’s available, Brooklyn needs to pounce.
Nets: 3 free agents to sign after James Harden mega trade
With three roster spots open and enough money to sign some pieces via Dinwiddie’s injury exception, look for free agents like these to end up as Nets.