Imagine a world in which Karl-Anthony Towns is not a 7-foot center, but instead a 6’8” wing player—think Paul George. In that world, has Gorgui Dieng become as marginalized as he is? Do we view his contract as quite the albatross we do now? The answer to both questions is probably no, and it reminds us that players are subject to the vicissitudes of chance and circumstance, and that only part of the calculus of their success is their own talent and abilities.
In 2016-17, Dieng started all 82 games, and played a career high 32.