Clan-Members » Ballantyne said of the talk he wanted

MINNEAPOLIS -- In the funny-money economics of the new NBA, Gorgui Diengs four-year, $64 million contract extension really isnt a lot of money.In the real world that Dieng inhabits, the one in which his hometown in Senegal cant even get basic necessities for its hospital, $64 million can, and will, have an incredible impact.It doesnt matter how much you make but what can you do with it, Dieng said Tuesday, one day after signing the contract to keep him with the Minnesota Timberwolves for the long haul. Im sure a lot of people make more money than I did before and they didnt do the right thing with it. I always wanted to help and Im going to keep helping. Im going to do the best I can to my ability to make peoples lives better.Working hand-in-hand with Matter, a nonprofit dedicated to expanding health care throughout the world, and Roger and Nancy McCabe of the Timberwolves Fastbreak Foundation, Dieng has put together a three-phase Gorgui Project to deliver equipment and tools for the hospital and agriculture in Kebemer. Dieng has helped ship massive containers back home with X-ray machines, beds, rototillers and even a tractor to help those he left when he came to the United States to pursue a basketball career.So while other big men like Utahs Rudy Gobert and Oklahoma Citys Steven Adams signed extensions for four years and at least $100 million, Dieng wasnt interested in squeezing every last dollar he could out of the Timberwolves. Had he declined the offer and become a free agent next summer, he likely would have commanded a contract of at least $80 million. But in his four years in Minnesota, Dieng has found a home, and he made it clear he wanted to stay.I want to be here. I didnt want to be here I wouldnt have bought a house this summer, he said. Everybody knew it. I wanted to be here. I dont like moving around back and forth. I like here. I like the organization. Great people. They help you. Its an easy task for me being here.The 26-year-old Dieng has emerged as a versatile and dependable big man, able to defend multiple positions, block shots, rebound and hit the midrange jumper. It didnt take long for new coach Tom Thibodeau to understand he is a perfect fit alongside Karl-Anthony Towns in the frontcourt. Dieng is averaging 13.0 points and 13.5 rebounds in the first two games this season.I think its important for the organization, Thibodeau said. Obviously, we feel very good about him signing. Thats important for us to move forward. He embodies all the things were looking for. He has had a very good start to his career. He continues to improve. He gets better and better, but its also who he is: His character, his intelligence, his drive. I think those things are important.Diengs decision to sign for less than he probably could have gotten on the open market provides the Wolves some flexibility for the coming years when Towns, Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine come up for extensions that are expected to come at a much steeper price. Dieng met with Wolves owner Glen Taylor on Monday to chart out the vision for the franchise over the next five years, and he decided to try to set the tone for the negotiations to come in hopes that this tight-knit group stays together.If I go to another team, am I going to be happy? I dont know, Dieng said. I just wanted to be happy and make sure Im comfortable where I am at. Im looking forward (hoping) theyre all going to do the same and be honest with their teammates, because at the end of the day its not all about the money. Shoes NZ Sale . 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Fremantle goalsneak Hayden Ballantyne says his rumoured rift with teammate Nat Fyfe was nothing but wrong speculation, while he also denied he asked for a trade away from the Dockers.Rumours surfaced last season that a host of Dockers players were unhappy with Fyfes leadership style, with Ballantyne apparently part of the clan.But Ballantyne flatly denied those claims on Wednesday.Theres a lot of speculation in Perth with footy players, and thats exactly what it was. There were no issues to resolve, Ballantyne said.It also emerged last year that Ballantyne had sought a trade to West Coast after failing to land a multi-year contract extension at the Dockers.But Ballantyne says he never wanted to leave the Dockers, claiming his manager was merely sussing out all available options.I didnt ask for that, no, Ballantyne said of the talk he wanted to head to arch rivals West Coast.(I was) open to look at all the possibilities for my football career.My manager does a great job, and he dealt with all the rubbish outside.For me, it didnt faze me in the slightest.Im happy here. Once all the dust settled, and Im staying as a Fremantle player, I was stoked.Its always been my mission to stay a Fremantle player for my whole career. Im as happy as hell.Ballantyne said he had a refreshing chat with coach Ross Lyon after the trade period.Once the dust settled, we laid everything out, Ballantyne said.ddddddddddddI said, What do you need from me for 2017? And he was stoked with that.He said get your head down, bum up, and into pre-season.Ballantyne was an All-Australian in 2014, but he has struggled to recapture his best form since.The 29-year-old booted just 26 goals from 20 games last season, and just 15 goals the year before.It was a far cry from his 2014 campaign that yielded 49 goals.Ballantyne says Dockers players have been given the green light to play more instinctively in 2017.The club is hopeful the new style of play will help the team rebound from their horror 2016 campaign that yielded just four wins.Ballantyne suffered a fractured cheekbone last season, and he also broke his jaw in 2014.But the pocket rocket says hes not about to change his frenetic attack on the man and the ball any time soon.If I think about trying to protect myself in a game, opportunities are missed to lay a tackle or things like that, Ballantyne said.Theres a fair bit of metal in there now, so hopefully that helps.Luckily enough there hasnt been concussions or damage to my brain. Its just been bone damage, which heals quick enough. I wont be changing too much. ' ' '