Mamadi

Diakite

It’s been an eventful summer for Diakite, whose player rights were traded twice. First, he was sent to Brooklyn as part of the Mikal Bridges trade, with the Knicks paying him $1.4 million to help consummate the deal. Two weeks later, Diakite was traded to Memphis, with the Grizzlies waiving him on August 27. On Friday, the Suns’ G League affiliate acquired Diakite’s G League rights from the Westchester Knicks, and it was reported shortly after that he’ll go through training camp with the Suns. The Exhibit 10 contract means that if the Suns waive Diakite and he spends 60 days with their G League affiliate, he’ll receive a $77,500 bonus.

Diakite was dealt to Memphis on July 19 for Ziaire Williams and a 2030 second-round pick, but he’ll look for a new home after just six weeks with the Grizzlies. Diakite won’t be on the fantasy radar no matter where he lands.

Two weeks after being traded to the Nets, Diakite is on the move again. The Virginia product has appeared in 55 games for five teams across four NBA seasons, and he’s unlikely to see significant run for Memphis, barring another bizarre multitude of injuries. He’ll provide forward depth for his new team, and he’s not on the fantasy radar.

While the NBA has not officially finalized the trade, the framework appears complete. In addition to Bojan Bogdanovic and multiple draft picks, the Nets are sending Diakite and Shake Milton (sign-and-trade) to Brooklyn in exchange for Bridges and Keita Bates-Diop. Adding the contracts allows New York to avoid being limited to the first salary apron; they can now spend up to $188.9 million on salaries for the 2024-25 season. Diakite did not play much while with the Knicks, and that’s unlikely to change in Brooklyn with Nic Claxton and Noah Clowney under contract.

It’s that time of year when some non-playoff teams reward players who have performed well for their G League affiliate. Gray has been with the Spurs’ G League affiliate in Austin, averaging 15 points and nearly six rebounds per game. To make room for the 2021 second-round pick out of Florida State, the Spurs are waiving Mamadi Diakite.

Diakite, who appeared in 22 games for the Cavaliers last season, most recently played for the Westchester Knicks in the NBA G League. His addition to the Spurs roster is unlikely to impact fantasy basketball significantly.

Seeing action for the first time since March 17, Green made the most of his opportunity to log rotation minutes. The 21 points and five 3-pointers represent season-highs for the veteran wing, who did not make his season debut (with the Grizzlies) until February 1 due to his recovery from a torn ACL suffered during last season’s playoffs. Expecting Green to vault into the postseason rotation on the strength of one performance may be a bit much, but he certainly showed what he can provide on both ends of the floor if his name is called. Fellow reserves Isaiah Mobley (18/4/1/3/2 with two 3-pointers) and Mamadi Diakite (13/8/1/1/1 with one 3-pointer) also played well in Orlando, but their chances of cracking the postseason rotation are far slimmer than Green’s. At a minimum, Mobley and Diakite should play plenty in Sunday’s game against Charlotte.

Allen has missed Cleveland’s last five games due to a lower back contusion. If he’s cleared to play Tuesday night, spot starter Mamadi Diakite would return to the bench and lose all relevance as a streaming option. In fact, after playing 11 minutes in Sunday’s loss to the Knicks, Diakite should already be on all waiver wires.

With Jarrett Allen and Dean Wade out due to injury, Diakite is the next man up for the Cavaliers. While there is some risk in streaming him, as Kevin Love is healthy, Diakite’s worth a look in deeper fantasy leagues. Cleveland’s other four starters are unchanged from Friday’s win over the Magic.

Wade had already been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Knicks, and we may not see him in game action again until 2023. With Jarrett Allen also out due to injury, the short-term solution will likely be slot Mamadi Diakite into the starting lineup. He’s worth a look in deeper leagues as a streamer, but not much else.