After being selected 43rd overall by the LA Clippers earlier this year, 20-year-old Moussa Diabate signed a two-way contract that would see him spend time in both the G-League and the NBA. While most two-way players don’t see much time in the NBA, especially those selected in the second round by suitors, there seemed to be a potential path to minutes with the Clippers for Diabaté.
While NBA minutes were never expected to be imminent for Diabate, the Clippers decided to enter the 2022-23 season without an established backup center – a position that Diabate’s skill set perfectly matches. Listed at 6’11” with a wingspan of 7’3″, Diabate’s length meets the requirements for the position, but it’s his unique athleticism that projects to separate him from the rest at midpoint.
The ability to guard the perimeter is something that has become increasingly valuable among modern greats as the NBA continues to lean more into five-man rosters. While some teams rely on the small ball more than others, an iteration of a five-man squad seems to be making a nighttime appearance for nearly every team in the league. Without someone in the five who can counter this defensively, it becomes incredibly difficult to guard.
Touted for his switching ability on draft night, Moussa Diabate has proven to be a capable defender both around the basket and on the perimeter. Dominating in this regard in the G-League, Diabate recently proved that his game translates to the NBA as well.
Having had the opportunity to play his first rotational minutes of the season on Tuesday night against the Portland Trail Blazers, Diabate showed why so many people are very proud of his ability to contribute at the NBA level. Substituting just before the fourth quarter, Diabate played the entire last frame and scored a +19 in a game the Clippers won by six.
After the game, Ty Lue said, “Moussa came in the fourth quarter and gave us energy and that ability to switch positions keeping positions one through five. His energy is contagious for our team and the things he gives us: switching, blocked shots, rebounding. the basketball, the big tips and the big free throws.”
After helping lead a comeback effort against the Trail Blazers on Tuesday, Diabate had a similar opportunity against the Utah Jazz on Wednesday. While the comeback effort fell short this time, Diabate again made a positive impact, making a genuine bid for consistent minutes even once the Clippers are healthy.
Asked about the plan for Diabate going forward on Friday morning, Coach Lue said: “Keep on working. By giving him an opportunity, we know what he brings every night with the change, the turnover towards the basket, offensive rebounds. Just his energy, running the floor, he does a lot. Keep continuing to grow in the G-League, keep giving him opportunities here. And then we’ll see in the future.”
While Lue noted that Diabate will continue to enjoy playing time in the G-League, he added that the young center will also continue to have opportunities with the big club. When asked if that will happen even after the team is fully healthy, Lue replied, “Yes, I believe so.”
Sources have told AllClippers that Diabate will be available for Saturday’s game against the Sacramento Kings and then join the G-League squad when they play Oklahoma City on Sunday. Although unexpected circumstances may alter this course of action, sources have confirmed that this is the current plan for Diabate.
As for the next four-game road trip that begins Monday for the Clippers, it happens to parallel a four-game road trip for the Ontario Clippers as well. Sources have told AllClippers that the team is currently planning on Diabate playing with the Ontario Clippers on this trip as they value his continued development in the G-League on limited NBA minutes. That said, the team is actively considering upcoming opportunities for Diabate at the NBA level, which will ultimately determine when he joins the big club. As Ty Lue said, those opportunities are indeed coming.
While there are good reasons for Diabate to simply stay at NBA level as the team’s backup center, the Clippers highly value his consistency and confidence. With Ivica Zubac playing a career-high 30.7 minutes per game and the Clippers regularly incorporating groups of small balls, true backup center minutes are limited. While they exist and are important, sources say the Clippers currently prefer Diabate to receive consistent playing time in the G-League for his development and confidence, as opposed to limited minutes at the NBA level.
With his impact in the last two games, it’s easy to see how Diabate could significantly help this Clippers team, which is why he’s no longer seen as just an emergency option. The team is looking at future opportunities for him at the NBA level, as Ty Lue suggested on Friday morning, but they also appreciate his short and long-term development, which benefits from his current 31.0 minutes per game in the G-League.
Asked about his recent call-up on Friday, Diabate said: “I felt ready. That’s what I’m training for. Just be ready when my time is called. It’s just a blessing, really. Other than that , just grateful for the opportunity.”
Under pressure to play in the crucial minutes of the fourth quarter, Diabate said: “To be honest, I’m not going to lie to you, I didn’t really think about it. I was in the fourth quarter, but I was really fair in the moment trying to win… It was fair, let’s keep playing until they tell me to come out Just stay ready, play as hard as I can and give it my all that I have.
That call to leave the game never came for Diabate, as he played the entire fourth quarter, and was one of the main reasons the Clippers came back and won. This performance marked the organization, making it more difficult to manage Diabaté’s two-way contract. Although he has proven his ability to contribute at the NBA level, especially in a position of need for the Clippers, he is also only 20 years old with just nine G-League games under his belt. Because of this, the Clippers will continue to value his steady development in the G-League after Saturday’s game against Sacramento, but other NBA-level opportunities are indeed on the horizon for Moussa Diabate.
