MINNEAPOLIS -- Gorgui Dieng would have been one of the most sought after big men on the open market if he had become a restricted free agent next summer.The Minnesota Timberwolves had no interest in seeing it get that far.The team announced Monday night that Dieng had signed a four-year contract extension. The deal is worth $64 million, a person with knowledge of the contract told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team did not publicly announce the terms.Keeping Dieng was a crucial first move for the Timberwolves, who will have to spend millions in the coming two years if they want to keep their core of Andrew Wiggins, Zach LaVine and Karl-Anthony Towns -- who all are on affordable rookie contracts -- intact.Dieng isnt as well-known as Towns and Wiggins, but the versatile big man is instrumental to the teams success. He is averaging 13.0 points and 13.5 rebounds in the first two games this season, and his ability to play both power forward and center, defend multiple positions and knock down the midrange jumper make the 26-year-old a perfect fit with what the Wolves want to do.Dieng was the 21st overall draft pick in 2013 by the Utah Jazz, who traded him and Shabazz Muhammad for Trey Burke on draft night. It was a masterful decision by the late Flip Saunders, who ended up getting two rotation players for Burke, a scoring point guard who has struggled to find his fit in the NBA to this point.Dieng is much more than a rotation player, having started alongside Towns to give the Timberwolves one of the most promising young frontcourts in the league. His ability to defend the pick-and-roll coupled with flashes of range that occasionally stretches back to the 3-point line helped new coach and president Tom Thibodeau and GM Scott Layden quickly decide that they wanted to keep him around for the long haul.In a market where big men were getting enormous deals -- Oklahoma Citys Steven Adams and Utahs Rudy Gobert each signed four-year extensions worth at least $100 million on Monday -- Dieng comes at a relative bargain. As the sides negotiated Monday with a midnight Eastern deadline looming to get a deal done, Wolves owner Glen Taylor met personally with Dieng to drive home how important he was to the teams success going forward.Diengs contract also gives the Timberwolves flexibility going forward to be able to pay the premium they will need to pay for Wiggins and Towns, and perhaps LaVine as well.And $64 million is life-changing money for anyone, but especially for Dieng, who came to the United States from Senegal, won a national championship at Louisville and established himself as a starting-caliber big man in the NBA. Dieng continues to send aid and develop programs to help back home, and this contract will go a long way toward helping him continue his philanthropy.Dieng has been particularly active in donating much-needed supplies to the hospital in his hometown of Kebemer.Nike Dunks Clearance . Speaking to the Chicago Tribune at baseballs Winter Meetings in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, Boras called the former home of the Expos a "tremendous environment" for baseball. Nike Dunk High Sale . -- Arizona knocked off some quality opponents, rolled over a few overmatched ones and grinded out victories even when things didnt go so well. http://www.nikedunkscheap.com/nike-dunk-low-shoes/mens.html . Vokoun departed practice on Saturday morning after discovering swelling in his thigh. He was taken to a local hospital where the clot was revealed. The club announced the surgery following a 5-3 exhibition loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Cheap Nike Dunks For Sale . -- Gus Malzahn finally had his day in Fayetteville. Nike Dunk High Mens . - The Oakland Raiders re-signed offensive lineman Khalif Barnes on Friday.MANCHESTER, England -- Glance at the Champions League standings and it would seem all is just fine at Leicester City this season.Three matches. Three wins. No goals conceded.If only the defense of its English Premier League title was going so well.Few expected Leicester to replicate the feats of last season, when the unheralded team from central England went from relegation favorites to title winners in one of the most amazing stories in all of sports.Few, though, would have expected such a drop-off in the league the following season.When I think of the Premier League, Im very, very angry, said Leicesters usually amiable coach, Claudio Ranieri.Leicester heads into Saturdays home match against Crystal Palace in 13th place in the 20-team league, having lost four of its opening eight games. The team only lost three league matches in the whole of last season.The most obvious explanation for the drastic dip in form is a change of focus. This season, it increasingly seems, is all about the Champions League, which Leicester is competing in for the first time.Its just psychological, Ranieri explained. Because when we play in the Champions League, all the specials are switched on. Youre very, very smart, focused in every situation.The same cant be said in the Premier League. Leicester has lost to Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea by three-goal margins and also has been defeated by promoted Hull. Its only wins have come against Burnley and Swansea, both of whom -- like Hull -- are among the contenders for relegation.There are other factors to blame apart from a preoccupation with the Champions League.The loss of NGolo Kante to Chelsea has hit Leicester hard. It felt at times like the energetic Kante did the work of two players in central midfield last season, providing protection for the defense and also a springboard for the attack. Offseason recruits Daniel Amartey and Nampalys Mendy (currently injured) just arent in Kantes league.As a consequence, Leicesters defense looks vulnerable, with center backs Wes Morgan and Robert Huth exposed and making errors. That, however, doesnt explain the teams tendency to concede at set pieces this season, which is simply down to a lack of concentration and awareness.Another factor is Ranieris squad strengthening over the summer, which included signing forwards Ahmed Musa and Islam Slimani for what were club-record fees..dddddddddddd It has given the Italian coach more options for his lineup but he might no longer know what his best team is.Last season, everyone knew Leicesters first-choice lineup and Ranieri -- nicknamed Tinkerman during his time at Chelsea -- rarely rotated, but that has changed. Shinji Okazaki, for example, rarely starts now and the Japan forward was a key member of the title-winning team because of his work rate, unselfishness and qualities in linking the midfield and attack.Then theres the dip in form of star players from last season -- striker Jamie Vardy and winger Riyad Mahrez. Vardy has scored twice this season, and not since Sept. 10, while Mahrez hasnt been the same effervescent force that once flustered defenses. Have opponents worked out how to play them?A mid-table finish in the Premier League and getting to the knockout stage of the Champions League would be acceptable in this most unusual of seasons for Leicester. But for Ranieri, the quicker the team gets to the 40-point mark -- a figure widely regarded as the safety net against relegation -- the better.Here are some other things to watch out for this weekend in the ninth round of games:---CHELSEA VS. MANCHESTER UNITEDUnited manager Jose Mourinho returns to Stamford Bridge on Sunday for the first time since getting fired by Chelsea in December, which ended his second spell at the London club.It will be the latest game in a tough period for United, which played away to Liverpool on Monday and hosts Manchester City in the League Cup on Wednesday.Mourinho adopted a defensive, containing approach at Liverpool, which eked out a 0-0 draw for United. He may do the same against a Chelsea team that has won both of its games since manager Antonio Conte switched to a three-man defense.---MANCHESTER CITY VS. SOUTHAMPTONSergio Aguero has found himself in an unusual position in Citys last two games: on the substitutes bench.Rested against Everton in the Premier League after exertions on international duty, the Argentina striker was controversially left out for tactical reasons in the 4-0 loss at Barcelona in the Champions League on Wednesday.Aguero should return on Sunday for the league leaders against Southampton, which hasnt lost any of its last four games in the league. ' ' '