Ousmane Dieng has been a revelation for the Milwaukee Bucks since being acquired as a throwaway piece at the NBA Trade Deadline. The forward, who was glued to the bench for most of his tenure with the OKC Thunder, has rapidly risen through the ranks in Milwaukee and finds himself starting at the small forward spot. Doc Rivers cannot take that away from him as another forward's return looms.
For the first time since November 4, Taurean Prince is in line to take the court as the Milwaukee Bucks face the Phoenix Suns. While it's not a guarantee, as Prince is listed as questionable after missing the last few months due to surgery to address a herniated disc, it feels inevitable that he will be back on the floor soon for Milwaukee.
Rivers must remember how impactful Dieng has been and not cut into his time for Prince.
Prince can help Bucks, but not at the expense of Dieng
Prince has been a trusted piece under Rivers. In 88 regular season games with the franchise, he has started in 73 of those contests. It makes sense. On a roster that has been depleted of small forward depth, especially as Khris Middleton dealt with injuries, Prince was naturally the next man up, playing a bigger role than he initially signed up for.
Any other time, Prince's return could be a huge shot in the arm. A forward who has shot 43.8 percent from deep while playing serviceable defense could be of great use to a team that has been lacking at the small forward spot for most of the season. However, the emergence of Dieng has quieted, though not fully eliminated, the need for a piece like Prince.
While Prince could still work his way into the rotation, Dieng's role should not be touched.
Ousmane Dieng has earned his role with Bucks
The biggest reason Dieng has been thriving with the Milwaukee Bucks is simply that he's been given an opportunity. He has five starts with the Bucks in 13 games. Compare that to the two starts he logged with OKC in 136 games, and it's clear to see why his numbers have skyrocketed in such a short time. Dieng looks like a legitimate player, and the Bucks need to prioritize his growth.
Over his last four games, Dieng is averaging 28.5 minutes per contest, the third-most on the team. Trailing only Kevin Porter Jr. and Ryan Rollins, that is exactly where the forward should be (as long as Giannis Antetokounmpo remains on a minutes limit). Even if the Bucks' season is slipping, they need to uncover what they have in Dieng, who can be a huge part of the present and future.
Doc Rivers has done plenty of questionable things with the Milwaukee Bucks, but one of the excellent things has been giving Dieng an opportunity. Taking that away or even lessening that for Prince would be the ultimate slap in the face.
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