Top 5 buyout candidates: Gorgui Dieng, C, Memphis Grizzlies
Perhaps the least heralded of the buyout candidates on this list, Gorgui Dieng is quietly playing some of the basketball of his career – probably the best since a hot streak earned him the four-year, $62.8 million contract that expires after this season.
The seven-year center has been a reserve big for the Memphis Grizzlies, playing just 371 total minutes filling in for Jonas Valunciunas and Brandon Clarke in the frontcourt. When he has played his per-minute numbers have been stellar. Dieng is putting up 16.8 points, 9.5 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per-36 minutes, hitting 47.9 percent of his 3-pointers. The Grizzlies have a fully stocked frontcourt when everyone is healthy (and honestly even when they’re not), so Dieng will likely hit the buyout market in the coming days.
Who’s Interested? Dieng is the stretch-big no one is talking about, and that means he likely won’t be the first domino to fall. But there are enough openings leaguewide as all but a handful of teams think they’re still alive in the playoff hunt for Dieng to be confident in a spot.
The Charlotte Hornets are a great option, as they have minutes now at the 5 to offer. If Dieng plays well, they also have the cap space to sign him to a longer-term deal this offseason. If he prefers a contender, the Milwaukee Bucks could use another stretch big behind Brook Lopez so they aren’t so reliant on Bobby Portis in the postseason.