Ousmane Dieng never found his way in Oklahoma City, partly because he never had a real chance. Since joining the Milwaukee Bucks at the trade deadline, he has burst onto the scene as a smooth shooter and versatile playmaker. The 22-year-old forward looks like a steal.
While the Thunder may like to have him back, they just don't have room on a championship roster loaded with quality role players. After Dieng delivered a career performance against his former team, Darvin Ham, filling in as head coach for Doc Rivers, offered a bit of solace to wistful Dieng fans.
"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."
Dieng needs more room to grow than his old team could give him
Okay, so that last part might sting. It's only been three games total, but Dieng certainly looks like a possible piece of the Bucks' future core. The Bulls, who acquired Dieng in a separate trade before shipping him to Milwaukee, may share that chagrin.
With the Thunder, though, Dieng was never going to have the chance to come out of his shell. In fairness, they kept him around for four years, a longer leash than the Bucks have typically granted their own young players. Oklahoma City is an organization known for developing young talent. If Dieng couldn't make it there, maybe that's more on him than a lack of opportunity.
But his combined 59 minutes in Milwaukee's last two games weren't magically going to become available. Dieng only appeared in 136 Thunder games over those four seasons, averaging 12 minutes per contest. Before his start Thursday, he'd made just two in his career.
His game versus the Thunder (19 points, 11 rebounds, six assists, and four blocks) was the type of all-around outing that prompted Ham to say, "We found a jewel."
In his eyes, Dieng, a one-time lottery pick, "is just scratching the surface." That one might hurt if it proves true. Ouch, Thunder and Bulls fans.
Of course, it's not like the Oklahoma City fanbase has any reason to shed tears. The other part of Ham's comments is just as relevant. Sometimes, things just don't work out. In contrast to his fringe, off-and-on status on the Thunder, Dieng has a wide open potential role on a Milwaukee roster desperate for a small forward who can shoot. This isn't a deep group coming off a Finals season. The Bucks could use all the help they can get.
On a Thunder squad that has absorbed its stars' injuries in stride, that need just doesn't exist.