Several months ago, the Milwaukee Bucks were poised to acquire Nick Richards in a trade with the Phoenix Suns, but they flipped him to the Chicago Bulls. The Bucks look like significant winners on that front, given that they instead acquired a potential long-term prospect in Ousmane Dieng while Richards remains unsigned in free agency as August kicks off.
Bucks' Dieng trade was great on impact
Acquiring Richards would have made sense, given that Milwaukee needed another big man at the time. Yet, when it was announced that they would instead acquire Ousmane Dieng, eyebrows were raised. A then-2-year-old forward who was the 11th overall pick just a few years prior? With all respect to Richards, that's a far more interesting return than a 28-year-old reserve stopgap center.
Indeed, Dieng impressed. In his short time with the Milwaukee Bucks, the young forward put up the best numbers of his career, making the most of a prominent opportunity. Meanwhile, Richards was a fine addition to the undersized Bulls' rotation, but even they would have to admit that Dieng would've been the better get, especially since Richards is still looking for his next team right now.
Dieng looks like a long-term piece for Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks made their feelings on Dieng clear this summer by re-signing him to a three-year deal worth $17.5 million. Whether he's a starter or reserve, Dieng should be featured in the new Bucks' rotation this coming season. If he builds off of last year's impressive close, that contract may look like a steal in no time, especially with a player development-heavy coach like Taylor Jenkins.
Meanwhile, it's unclear what Richards might be doing over the next several months. It would not be shocking if someone picked him up for training camp to fortify their roster, but as evidenced by him not being signed over a month after free agency opened, it's clear that no one is banging down the door to pick up the 28-year-old big man.
No, this will never go down as a game-changing move, but it could perhaps be an underrated win the Milwaukee Bucks needed after a string of failed transactions. Making it even better is that Milwaukee didn't give up much in the first place, simply parting with Cole Anthony and Amir Coffey, two players who were out of the rotation entirely at that time.
Nice work, Bucks.
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