The Milwaukee Bucks' only move of trade season was acquiring Nick Richards and Nigel Hayes-Davis in exchange for Cole Anthony and Amir Coffey, but things have changed. Per ESPN's Shams Charania, the Bucks and Suns have expanded the trade, with Chicago getting Richards while Ousmane Dieng lands in Milwaukee. It's not a life-changing difference, but it is an interesting swap.
Bucks land a former 11th overall pick instead of solid big man
Richards was viewed as a decent addition for Milwaukee in the couple of hours he was on the team. The Bucks were in desperate need of more rebounding, and Richards absolutely could have given a boost in that regard. However, the Bulls clearly needed him more, given that their roster is currently made up of mostly guards after a busy deadline, while the Bucks already have three centers.
Dieng offers them more upside. Right off the bat, Dieng is around six years younger than Richards. The 22-year-old was the 11th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. While he never worked out with the OKC Thunder during his four seasons there, he also never received a true opportunity to spread his wings. Does he get that chance in Milwaukee? Time will tell.
On paper, the potential is there. Deing measures in at 6-foot-9, splitting time at power forward and center early in his career. At 185 lbs, he could look to add more muscle to his frame. If that is in the cards, he certainly has a good person to go to in Milwaukee in Giannis Antetokounmpo, who went through one of the NBA's most insane body transformations ever.
If Dieng doesn't work out for whatever reason, the Milwaukee Bucks aren't tied to him long-term. He will be a restricted free agent in the summer. The Bucks can use that to their advantage to re-sign him or let him walk out the door. It's the definition of a low-risk move for a player who was walking across the draft stage very early just a few years back.
Whether they acquired Richards or Dieng, it's shocking that the Milwaukee Bucks didn't get at least a single draft asset. They did the Phoenix Suns a massive favor by helping them duck the tax in the deal for Richards. Chicago could have given them one for sending a legitimate center their way. The Bucks shockingly didn't make a hard push for any of that, it appears.
It's a fine move, but it's certainly controversial that Dieng and Hayes-Davis, who may not ever play a game in Milwaukee, were the only players the Bucks added. At least they kept Giannis.
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