Milwaukee Bucks fans will, as expected, have to wait at least one more game for a chance to see deadline acquisition Ousmane Dieng in action. The former Thunder forward is reportedly not with the team for the Bucks’ Friday night game against the Pacers; Milwaukee next plays Orlando on Monday, which should be enough time for Dieng to get situated with his new roster.
For tonight’s contest, Dieng joins Taurean Prince (neck), Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf strain), and Kyle Kuzma (calf soreness) among Bucks ruled out for tipoff at the Fiserv Forum. Gary Harris (hamstring) and Bobby Portis (hip) are listed as questionable.
Could Dieng see burn down the stretch as bench depth?
The Bucks acquired Dieng from Chicago prior to Thursday’s deadline in a three-team deal that sent Amir Coffey and Cole Anthony to Phoenix and Suns center Nick Richards to the Bulls.
Milwaukee also received Suns forward Nigel Hayes-Davis, the former Wisconsin Badgers star, but waived him the day of the trade.
Whether Dieng carves out a role in the Bucks’ rotation remains to be seen. The 22-year-old Frenchman played 27 games for the Thunder this season before being traded to Chicago. He averaged 3.7 points in 11 minutes per night while shooting a career-best 36.7% from three.
Oct 17, 2023; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Chris Livingston (7) dribbles while defended by Oklahoma City Thunder forward Ousmane Dieng (13) during the second half at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Ferguson-USA TODAY Sports
In Milwaukee, Dieng should in theory have an opportunity as the Bucks most likely tank for draft position and explore what they have in the young players on the roster for next season.
The 11th pick of the 2022 draft, Dieng won a ring with Oklahoma City last season but failed to become a useful role player in his four years there. Overall, Dieng appeared in 136 games averaging 4.2 PPG and 2.0 RPG on 42.3% shooting.
In the final year of his rookie contract, Dieng will become a restricted free agent this summer, offering the Bucks a chance to keep him if he intrigues or let him walk if not.
Undersized for a member of the frontcourt at 6-foot-9 and 185 pounds, Dieng could benefit from adding bulk in the offseason or else adapting his skillset to more of a hybrid forward role rather than seeking reps as a small-ball center.
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