The Milwaukee Bucks have been immediately vindicated for giving Ousmane Dieng time on the floor, something the stacked Oklahoma City Thunder couldn't do. Now, Dieng looks like a real steal for the Bucks, and he could be a long-term guy for the franchise.
Bucks should try to keep Dieng around long-term
It is no hidden secret that the reigning champions have ridiculous depth, leading to a player as good as Dieng struggling to see minutes. This season, the French wing has played over 20 minutes on six occasions, two of those with the Bucks and a season-high 36 minutes coming in his return to OKC.
Milwaukee hasn't had a great history of drafting, but picking up guys on the cheap and turning them into successes, they have excelled at. Amir Coffey and Cole Anthony were both out of the rotation. Dieng has instantly shown that he can help the team not only now but in the long-term.
A 17-point performance against the Orlando Magic was backed up by a stellar 19 points against the Thunder, adding 11 rebounds, six assists, and four blocks as the 22-year-old did it all in a big win before the All-Star break.
As the Bucks look to build a younger, more athletic core, Dieng has shown he can be a big part of that. His 6-foot-9 frame allows him to guard bigger, but he also has the agility to take on smaller wings and keep up with them, something that will be needed in an Eastern Conference stacked with great athletic wings.
The ability to stretch the floor is something that needs work on, as he is shooting 31.6 percent through his NBA career, but he has shown flashes already of shooting well above that, with games shooting 5-for-8 (62.5 percent) and 3-of-6 (50 percent) already in a Bucks jersey.
We have yet to see him and Cam Thomas alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo, but there is no reason why the two won't fit well with the two-time MVP. Dieng can play small-ball five as Giannis looks to take command of the game, but he can also slot in at the three spot if needed and take on defensive matchups that allow Giannis to rest on defense.
Giannis' future will continue to be questioned this offseason, and despite this, Dieng can be a long-term guy, whether the Greek Freak stays in Milwaukee or not. In the present, he will be vital for the team down the stretch as they look to chase down the teams in the play-in spots.
It is only three games, but the Bucks have been immediately vindicated by the addition of Ousmane Dieng. He will be a huge part of the team down the stretch and hopefully moving forward, as the Frenchman has a bright future and can be a real long-term staple for the team.