Tag: Mamadi Diakite

Nets trade Mamadi Diakite for Grizzlies’ Ziaire Williams, Mavs’ 2nd-round pick

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Friday that the Brooklyn Nets traded Mamadi Diakite for Ziaire Williams and a 2030 second-round pick.

The Brooklyn Nets finally made the decision of heading into a full-scale rebuild once they traded Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks in exchange for as many as five first-round picks and three players. With Brooklyn beginning their latest rebuild, it makes sense that they are taking a chance on a former first-round pick.

Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported on Friday that the Nets traded for Memphis Grizzlies forward Ziaire Williams along with a 2030 second-round pick (via the Dallas Mavericks) in exchange for forward Mamadi Diakite. Diakite was one of the three players that Brooklyn acquired from the Knicks in the Bridges trade last month.

Williams, 22, was selected by the New Orleans Pelicans with the 10th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft before being traded to the Grizzlies in a three-team deal that sent Jonas Valanciunas to the Pelicans. After spending one season at Stanford University, Williams joined a Memphis squad that was trying to build around Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. and as such, the former Cardinal could not find a stable role within the rotation.

To be clear, Williams has been a decent player for the Grizzlies in his three seasons with the franchise as he has career averages of 7.5 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game while shooting 42.6% from the field and 30.1% from three-point land. Given Williams’ pedigree as a former lottery pick, Brooklyn made a low-risk, high-reward kind of move as he is entering the final year of his rookie deal.

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2021-22 Thunder player grades: Mamadi Diakite

Handing out a final grade for Oklahoma City Thunder forward Mamadi Diakite’s 2021-22 regular season.

(Editor’s note: We are starting individual grades for all players from the 2021-22 Oklahoma City Thunder. To access other reviews as part of this ongoing series, click here.)

With the 2021-22 regular season now officially in the books, the Oklahoma City Thunder (24-58) finished their season with the fourth-best lottery odds. This means it is now time for individual player grades for all 26 players who suited up for the team this season during the 82 games. The grades will be determined by what the season expectations were for each player and how they lived up to them.

The twentieth player in the installment is Mamadi Diakite, who appeared in 13 games after breaking his hip in the preseason.

OKC Thunder news: Thunder trade for KZ Okpala from Heat, adjust 2023 pick and release Mamadi Diakite

The Oklahoma City Thunder and Miami Heat completed a trade that involved KZ Okpala, amended the 2023 Heat pick in exchange for 2025 top-14 protected or 2026 unprotected pick and released Mamadi Diakite

The Oklahoma City Thunder have acquired KZ Okpala from the Miami Heat in exchange for a 2026 second-round pick, according to Marc Stein.

In the official PR statement, the Thunder also announced that the team has amended the 2023 pick the Heat owed them and will not be owed in 2025 with top-14 protection and will then convey to a 2026 unprotected pick.

In a corresponding move, the Thunder also waived Mamadi Diakite, who was on his third — and final — 10-day contract with the team. Diakite averaged 4.3 points and 4.5 rebounds in 13 games this season.

Okpala is in his third season in the NBA and has averaged 2.8 points and 1.8 rebounds in 63 career games. This season, Okpala has averaged 3.7 points and two rebounds while shooting 34.6 percent from three in 21 games.

Okpala was drafted 32nd overall in the second round of the 2019 NBA draft. Okpala is in the final year of his rookie contract and will enter the summer as an unrestricted free agent.

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OKC Thunder player grades: Lu Dort, Josh Giddey leads team to third-straight win

The Thunder were able to extend its winning streak to three games as they defeat the Trail Blazers for a second time in a five-day span.

The Oklahoma City Thunder were able to make it two-for-two this week in terms of wins over the Portland Trail Blazers as they win one on the road against their divisional rival, 96-93. The Trail Blazers had a chance to tie the game after inbounding the ball full court with 3.1 seconds left but Anfernee Simons missed a fairly decent look from deep and the buzzer sounded.

This win extends the Thunder’s winning streak to three games — all without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander — behind the backs of Lu Dort and Josh Giddey. Dort continues to step up and carry the scoring load as he led the team with 23 points while Giddey added 16 points and seven rebounds.

For the Trail Blazers, Simons and CJ McCollum led the team in scoring with 19 points each while Jusuf Nurkic contributed with a 14 point and 16 rebound double-double. Let’s take a look at player grades in this win.

OKC Thunder news: Thunder sign Mamadi Diakite to third 10-day deal

The Oklahoma City Thunder announced on Monday that they have signed Mamadi Diakite to a third 10-day contract, the team will need to make a decision on his future on the team when this deal expires.

The Oklahoma City Thunder announced on Monday that they have signed Mamadi Diakite to his third 10-day deal of the season. Diakite’s second 10-day deal expired on Sunday. This third one runs through Feb. 9, the team will then need to make a decision on whether to sign Diakite for the rest of the season or to not bring him back on the squad.

Diakite was a preseason favorite to make the NBA roster until he fractured his hip. Diakite would then spend the next three months rehabbing his injury and made a surprisingly quick return back to action. Diakite spent last season with the Milwaukee Bucks, with whom he played 14 games and averaged 3.1 points and 2.4 rebounds.

In eight games for the Thunder this season, Diakite has averaged three points and 3.3 rebounds.
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OKC Thunder news: Thunder sign Mamadi Diakite to second 10-day contract

The Thunder signed Mamadi Diakite to a second 10-day deal.

The Oklahoma City Thunder announced on Friday that they have signed Mamadi Diakite to a second 10-day contract. Diakite signed his first 10-day deal on Jan. 11. In four games since then, Diakite has averaged 3.5 points and 2.3 rebounds.

Diakite spent last season with the Milwaukee Bucks, with whom he played 14 games and averaged 3.1 points and 2.4 rebounds.

Diakite was a training camp invite but suffered a left hip fracture in the preseason and was waived. Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault said that the team was impressed with how quickly Diakite recovered from this injury and returned ahead of schedule.

The Thunder are on the road as they face the Charlotte Hornets on Friday.

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OKC Thunder news: Thunder signs Mamadi Diakite to 10-day hardship deal

The Thunder bring back a familiar face in training camp invite Mamadi Diakite as he signs a 10-day deal.

The Oklahoma City Thunder announced that they have signed Mamadi Diakite to a 10-day hardship deal on Tuesday. Diakite was a training camp invite before ultimately being waived due to suffering a left hop fracture in preseason. With the signing, I think it is safe to assume Diakte has recovered from the hip fracture he suffered in October.

Diakite spent last season with the Milwaukee Bucks, where he played in 14 games and averaged 3.1 points and 2.4 rebounds.

The Thunder currently have two players in health and safety protocols in Kenrich Williams and Isaiah Roby. Diakite joins Olivier Sarr as players on the roster with a 10-day deal.

The Thunder are on the road as they face the Washington Wizards on Tuesday.

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Thunder forward Mamadi Diakite out indefinitely with left hip fracture

Thunder forward Mamadi Diakite, claimed off waivers less than a month ago, suffered a hip injury against the Bucks and is out indefinitely.

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Mamadi Diakite is out indefinitely with a left hip fracture, the team announced on Wednesday.

Diakite appeared to have injured the hip during the fourth quarter of the preseason game against his former team, the Milwaukee Bucks.

He had been claimed off waivers by the Thunder on Sept. 26 after being waived by the Bucks.

Diakite was fighting for a spot on the final Thunder roster. Oklahoma City has 16 players on a standard contract, according to the Okalahoman, and will need to make one cut to make it 15.

Daigneault said the way the team is evaluating Diakite’s future with the organization “doesn’t really change very much” with the injury.

“Availability matters, but there’s a lot of other factors that go into those decisions, and most of them are strategy decisions that have to do with future planning, contracts, stuff like that,” Daigneault said. “That’ll all still get weighed, and we still have time to make those decisions. That’s what (general manager Sam Presti is) working on right now.

A rookie with Milwaukee last season, Diakite averaged 3.1 points in 10.1 minutes of play per game over 14 total appearances.

The final Thunder preseason game is scheduled for 7 p.m. Central Time on Thursday. OKC’s regular season will begin Wednesday.

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Thunder waive Charlie Brown Jr., claim Mamadi Diakite off waivers

The OKC Thunder waived Charlie Brown Jr. to create roster space to claim Mamadi Diakite, who was waived by the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Oklahoma City Thunder waived guard Charlie Brown Jr., the team announced Sunday night.

The Thunder used the open roster spot to claim power forward Mamadi Diakite, who had been waived by the Milwaukee Bucks.

Brown spent part of last season on the Thunder. In nine games, he averaged 4.4 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 16.9 minutes of play. He was not efficient, shooting 30.2% from the field and 23.8% from 3.

He was a fringe player on the roster at best entering the season. The Thunder had presumably seen enough of the 24-year-old guard, waiving him to create space for Diakite.

Diakite is a 6-foot-9, 228-pound power forward who appeared in 14 games for the Bucks last season. Over 10.1 minutes per appearance, he averaged 3.1 points and 2.4 rebounds.

He stood out at the G League level when he played for the Lakeland Magic in the bubble last season.

Diakite was named to the All-NBA G League First Team, NBA G League All-Defensive Team and NBA G League All-Rookie Team with averages of 18.5 points, 10.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.1 blocks in 27.7 minutes per game.

He will have a chance to work out for the Thunder during training camp and the preseason and fight for a spot on Oklahoma City’s roster.

2020 ACC Tournament Continuation: Notre Dame upsets Virginia at buzzer

The Irish take down the defending national champs in epic fashion!

Notre Dame might have gotten the 2020 ACC Tournament victory it needed to earn an at-large spot in March Madness, and in an epic way. Facing an uphill battle in the quarterfinals against No. 2 seed and defending national champion Virginia, the Irish needed everything they had to pull off the upset. It was enough to celebrate an 80-79 win in overtime.

Notre Dame set the tone for this game early, beginning it on a 12-2 run. Virginia rallied to tie the game at 17, but the Irish caught fire again, going on a 21-4 run to take a 17-point lead with two-and-a-half minutes left in the first half. That paved the way for a 10-point advantage. However, that was only the beginning.

The Irish continue to hold the lead during the second half, answering every Cavaliers run. They were up, 68-62, with 22 seconds left in regulation, but John Mooney missed the front end of a one-and-one, allowing Casey Morsell to cut it to 68-65 on a 3 with six seconds left. Dane Goodwin was fouled with three seconds remaining, but he also missed the first shot of a one-and-one. That allowed Mamadi Diakite to grab the rebound and launch a prayer from three-quarter court at the buzzer — and hit it, tying the score to force overtime and send the Greensboro Coliseum into a frenzy.

The teams traded leads in overtime and even were deadlocked a few times before Braxton Key made a 3 to give the Cavaliers a 79-76 lead with 39 seconds left. Mooney cut the deficit to 79-78 with a free-throw line jumper, then rebounded a missed one-and-one before clanking the go-ahead jumper and being forced to foul Kihei Clark with 10 seconds to go. Clark also missed the front end of a one-and-one, and Juwan Durham got the rebound. Durham had just enough time to go the length of the court, put up a finger roll and watch the ball go through the hoop as time expired, making his teammates and the Irish contingent of fans in attendance go absolutely bonkers.

Mooney was the big player for the Irish, leading them with 28 points, 14 rebounds and three steals. Prentiss Hubb scored 15 points, including three 3-pointers, and dished out seven assists. Durham flirted with a double-double with a line of 10 points and eight rebounds. Rex Pflueger established his own presence with 10 boards.

Diakite achieved a double-double of 21 points and 11 rebounds for the Cavaliers before fouling out in overtime. Jay Huff nearly joined the double-double club with 16 points and nine rebounds. Clark did the same in finishing with 11 points and a game-high nine assists, as did Key with nine points and 11 boards. Tomas Woldetensae scored 12 points, all of which came on 3-pointers.