Milwaukee Bucks Ousmane Dieng
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The Bucks may have quietly won the trade deadline. Ousmane Dieng is thriving in expanded minutes and Milwaukee might have just unlocked a “second draft” steal at the perfect time.
The Milwaukee Bucks may have quietly become winner of the NBA trade deadline. Ousmane Dieng, acquired in a multi-team ripple deal that began with the Oklahoma City Thunder, is already reshaping Milwaukee’s rotation. Three games is a small sample. But the early impact is loud enough to demand attention.
Through his first stretch in a Bucks uniform, the 22-year-old forward is averaging 12.7 points and 5.0 rebounds in just over 21 minutes per night. Over his last two games, those numbers jumped to 18.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists on a blistering 76 percent true shooting. Milwaukee has been plus-22 with him on the floor during that span.
For a team fighting to maximize the Giannis Antetokounmpo window, that matters.
A “Second Draft” Steal?
Dieng entered the league in 2022-23 as a raw, long-term project. Oklahoma City saw the upside and spent a first-round pick to acquire him. But opportunity never matched potential.
Across four seasons with the Thunder, Dieng appeared in 136 games and averaged just 12 minutes per contest. Before his recent start in Milwaukee, he had made only two career starts. On a roster stacked with young, ascending talent, consistent minutes were scarce. Milwaukee, by contrast, needed length, shooting, and athleticism on the wing. Dieng checks every box.
The easiest explanation for his surge is shooting. He has knocked down half of his three-pointers on solid volume, providing spacing for a Bucks offense that has often leaned too heavily on Antetokounmpo. That percentage will normalize. But his mechanics are clean, and his shot diet is sustainable. There is little fluke in the form.
More importantly, Dieng is not just a floor spacer. His length and fluid athleticism have always stood out to scouts. What Milwaukee is doing differently is simplifying his role. He is attacking closeouts, pushing in transition, and using his size to rebound over smaller defenders. Production is finally catching up to tools.
That is the essence of the “second draft” philosophy. Find a talented player who could not crack a crowded rotation elsewhere and give him structure and opportunity. So far, it looks like a hit.
Another Thunder Departure Thrives
Dieng’s breakout fits a growing pattern for Oklahoma City. Ty Jerome found steady footing after leaving OKC, averaging 12.5 points per game off the bench in Cleveland last season before emerging with Memphis at 19.7 points and 6.0 assists through six games this year. Josh Giddey, moved on from in 2023-24, has averaged 15.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 7.7 assists as a Chicago Bull and was trending toward an All-Star push before a hamstring injury.
Oklahoma City has built a contender. But depth can become a double-edged sword. After Dieng delivered a career performance against his former team, Bucks assistant Darvin Ham, filling in for Doc Rivers for the night, acknowledged that reality.
“They did a good job prepping him here. You know, it’s like that sometimes. Sometimes you can have too many good players and so you have to part ways with some. But we’re happy we were able to get him. He’s someone that’s going to help us in the immediate present and the future.”
That quote says everything. The Thunder may not regret the move. They are chasing a championship with a deep, established rotation. But Milwaukee found oxygen in that squeeze.
Why This Matters for Milwaukee
The Bucks have endured uneven roster building during the Giannis era. Several deadline and offseason swings have missed. Dieng does not need to become a star to justify this deal. He simply needs to be playable in high-leverage minutes.
Early signs suggest he can be more than that. He stretches the floor, rebounds his position and can handle the ball in space. And at 22, he still aligns with both the present and future timeline. He is set to be a restricted free agent this upcoming summer which could allow the Bucks to bring him back on a favorable deal if he continues to show he is worth the extension. Three games do not define a career. But they can signal a shift.
Right now, Ousmane Dieng looks like the kind of low-risk, high-upside bet that smart contenders make and the kind of move that could quietly swing a playoff series down the line.