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Minnesota Timberwolves: Ranking the last 10 first-round picks

By Corey Rausch

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 19: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves celebrates with Zach LaVine #8 of the Minnesota Timberwolves after scoring the go ahead basket against Los Angeles Clippers during the second half of the basketball game at Staples Center January 19 2017, in Los Angeles, California. Timberwolves defeated the Clippers, 104-101. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 19: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves celebrates with Zach LaVine #8 of the Minnesota Timberwolves after scoring the go ahead basket against Los Angeles Clippers during the second half of the basketball game at Staples Center January 19 2017, in Los Angeles, California. Timberwolves defeated the Clippers, 104-101. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /
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NBA draft, Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA draft (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

4. Gorgui Dieng

Gorgui Dieng is the longest-tenured member of this list thus far, coming to the team during the same draft as the aforementioned Shabazz Muhammad and only leaving at the trade deadline this season. After only playing in 60 games during his rookie season he never played fewer than 73 games and played all 82 games twice.

Over seven seasons in Minnesota Dieng would average 7.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.0 blocks per game. He was a Tom Thibodeau favorite, as was to be expected when he was the type of player who rarely missed games.

Dieng is the kind of player that does not get talked about much but every roster likes to have a couple. He got more leeway from the start as he was the second player drafted by the Timberwolves that summer and unlike Muhammad no future faces of the league went directly after him.

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Other than Rudy Gobert (27th pick) the best players to go after Dieng are Tim Hardaway Jr. and Andre Roberson. This pick is defensible, making it the first one on this list that is clearly that. If the Timberwolves had done better picking in the years following it is easy to imagine Dieng being a part of playoff teams and contributing off the bench for them, specifically on the glass. With any luck, as he moves into his 30s he is finally going to get the chance to do just that.

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