Bucks' eleventh-hour swap has become a blessing in lost season

The trade that brought Ousmane Dieng to the Milwaukee Bucks was initially supposed to involve Suns center Nick Richards. About 15 minutes before the trade deadline, however, details changed. Richards was heading to Chicago. Dieng would join the Bucks. 

That swap turned out to be a massive win for Milwaukee in a season full of losing. 

The former lottery pick has swiftly established himself as a potential core piece of the franchise. Retaining Dieng in restricted free agency must be a high priority this summer. 

While Richards has been solid for the Bulls, the Bucks can only be thankful they pivoted to acquire Dieng in the "nick" of time. 

Ousmane Dieng has been Bucks' boon of the season

It is one of few moves that have worked out in Milwaukee this season. 

Signing Myles Turner? Disaster. Bringing back Gary Trent Jr.? A letdown. Adding Cole Anthony and Cam Thomas? Deflated experiments. 

Taking a flyer on Dieng has been paid out in spades. The cast out forward has blossomed for the Bucks, averaging 10.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, and three assists in 25 games. Two games ago against Houston, he erupted for a career-high 36 points, plus seven boards and 10 dimes. 

His impressive showing in Milwaukee goes far beyond that game. Consistently in double figures, Dieng has also flashed playmaking chops and surprising one-on-one ability when needed. If the Bucks don't draft their small forward of the future, Dieng is a strong candidate to return next season as the starter, a role he has already seized on the current roster.

His positional versatility means that he could also fill in at the four. At 6-foot-9, Dieng has plenty of length to contend with larger players. Adding a bit more bulk is the next step to his physical maturation in the NBA. The Bucks should ensure that happens in Milwaukee. Dieng is one diamond in the rough that will only sparkle brighter over time. 

Last-second pivot has paid off better than anyone predicted

For his part, Richards has returned to productive form in Chicago. His 9.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks per game are right in line with his contributions for the Suns and Hornets in recent years.

It's unlikely, however, that the Bulls view him as a long-term cog. Richards is 28 years old. The former second-round pick has probably reached his ceiling. His rebounding and rim-running abilities make him useful off the bench. 

Dieng, meanwhile, is still just 22. The 11th overall pick in the 2022 draft, he has made the most of his first legitimate shot in the pros. He may not have All-NBA potential, but developing into a borderline All-Star could certainly be in the cards.

Even with Dieng's appeal as a buy-low prospect, the Bucks would have been foolish to anticipate this degree of immediate transformation. Dieng scored 17 points in his second game and hasn't looked back since. General manager Jon Horst should take what good luck he can get after a ruinous streak of results in his offseason maneuvers and in the NBA Draft. 

In a season marred by regret, choosing Dieng at the deadline is a move the Bucks would make every time.