Dieng set to sign
» Veteran big man departs Grizzlies, clears waivers.
Seeking to bolster their frontcourt after parting ways with Lamarcus Aldridge, the Spurs are set to sign veteran big man Gorgui Dieng after he cleared waivers Sunday following his departure from Memphis, a league source confirmed.
To clear roster space for Dieng, the Spurs released power forward Marquese Chriss, who they acquired in a trade with Golden State on Thursday.
A 6-foot-10, 252-pound eighth-year pro from Senegal who played college ball at Louisville, Dieng was in his first full season with the Grizzlies, averaging 7.9 points and 4.5 rebounds over 22 games. He also shot 47.9 percent from 3-point range on 2.2 attempts per game.
Dieng spent his first six and a half seasons with Minnesota, which traded him to the Grizzlies during the 2019-20 season.
For his career, Dieng, 31, has averaged 7.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.0 blocks. He started 185 games over his first four seasons in the league, including all 82 in 201617, when he averaged 10.0 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.2 blocks for his best pro season.
The Spurs were left thin in the frontcourt after they amicably agreed to part ways with Aldridge before the All-star break. Unable to work a trade for him, they bought out his contract last week. His agent told ESPN on Saturday he had reached an agreement to sign with Brooklyn.
Dieng joins a big man contingent headed by Jakob Poeltl, who matched his career high with 20 points in Saturday night’s 120-104 win over Chicago. Since replacing Aldridge in the starting lineup 22 games ago, the 7-1 Austrian is averaging 9.5 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.1 blocks. As Poeltl’s backup, Drew Eubanks is averaging 5.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists in the 13 games since Aldridge played his last game for the Spurs.
“I am definitely happy for him,” Poeltl said of Aldridge. “I hope he finds his role there. I had a really good relationship with him. I wish him nothing but the best.”
Chriss, a fifth-year pro whose contract was set to expire at the end of the season, was unlikely to play for the Spurs after breaking his leg in a December practice. In his short career, he’s also played for Phoenix, Houston and Cleveland after Sacramento drafted him eighth overall in 2016.
“I just hope he finds his niche in this league and finds a home,” Spurs point guard Dejounte Murray said of his teammate at the University of Washington. “That’s my brother. I just want the best for him.”
Poeltl’s solid defense earns offensive looks
Poeltl’s play on the defensive end has earned him major points with his teammates.
“He plays so damn hard,” Murray said. “In the pick and roll, he’s being a good defender, trying to help, contesting shots at the rim every single chance he gets.”
The effort should be rewarded on the offensive end, Murray said.
“Sometimes he doesn’t get the touches that he deserves, so we got to start rewarding our big men when they do something great on the other end, make sure he’s getting touches,” Murray said.
Poeltl paced seven Spurs in double figures Saturday, matching his career high for the second time in 10 days. His previous 20-point outing also came against Chicago, where the Spurs overcame a 23-point deficit to win 106-99 on March 17.
In both games, he was an inviting target for the Spurs’ distributors.
“When they were doing their pick and roll coverage, he was open a lot,” guard Derrick White said. “He presents a good target and he has good skills around the basket. He makes it easy for us to find him, good hands and everything. Both games against Chicago, he’s been huge for us.”
Murray (eight), White (seven) and Derozan (seven) had seven-plus assists against the Bulls marking the first time the Spurs have had three players with seven-plus assists since Avery Johnson, Doc Rivers and Vinny Del Negro did it in 1995. “When we are moving the ball, getting good looks, we are a really good team, sharing it, looking for one another, driving for a teammate,” White said.
Popovich reaches milestone victory
With the win over Chicago, the Spurs’ Gregg Popovich became just the third coach in NBA history with 1,300 career victories in the regular season. The others are Don Nelson (1,335) and Lenny Wilkens (1,332).
Popovich needed 1,934 games to reach the milestone, compared to 2,290 for Nelson and 2,417 for Wilkens. He also is the only one to collect his wins with one team and ranks No. 1 in league history in combined regular season and playoff wins with a total of 1,470.
“Shout out to Pop, future
Hall of Fame coach,” Murray said afterward. “I’m just thankful to be able to know him as a person and be coached by him, the rest is just history. I know our relationship is going to last forever, and we’re going to continue to try to get him as many wins as we can. So, shout out to Pop.”
Vassell probable after ankle sprain
Spurs rookie guard Devin Vassell is probable for Monday night’s game against Sacramento after rolling his right ankle against Chicago, according to the club’s injury report.
Vassell did not return after entering the locker room with about nine minutes left in the second quarter.
Guard Lonnie Walker IV will miss his fourth game in a row with a sore right wrist. Forward Keita Bates-dip will be sidelined for his ninth straight game with a right hamstring strain.