Ousmane Dieng was one of Milwaukee’s breakout players last year. Dieng, a 22-year-old wing out of the French town of Villeneuve-sur-Lot, wound up in Milwaukee after a series of deadline-day trade deals. The Bucks acquired him in a three-team transaction that sent Amir Coffey and Cole Anthony to Phoenix. Dieng hasn’t looked back since, starting hot and averaging 11.0 PPG, 4.6 RPG, and 3.6 APG in 26.8 minutes per night with Milwaukee. He agreed to a three-year, $17.5m contract in June and is expected
to be an exciting piece of the Bucks’ young core.
The Frenchman is tall at 6’9”, but weighs a slender 185 pounds, giving him the athletic and positional versatility to play as a jumbo wing or even a really, really tall guard. Dieng is also a solid athlete; despite his size, he moves quickly and fluidly, which allows him to stay in front of shifty guards and create for teammates.
Tactically, Dieng can create some exciting scenarios for new coach Taylor Jenkins. He featured as a secondary creator for much of last season alongside lead guards like Ryan Rollins and Kevin Porter Jr., but when those guys were out toward the back end of the season, Dieng was the primary creator, averaging 6.3 assists in his final seven games. Dieng can physically overpower smaller point-of-attack defenders and shift past larger guys due to his mobility. He’s also been proficient as a pick-and-roll operator, with his highlight reel including many fancy dimes.
Dieng could be a major source of offence for Milwaukee this season, since he can score at all three levels. He leans heavily on his jump shot (which is partly because of his relatively lean frame, if we’re being honest). He struggled heavily with his three-ball as the season wore on, though, shooting just 20.3% from three during his last 12 games.
Relatedly, Dieng often takes low-percentage shots, and his diet of pull-ups and side steps further bogs down his shooting splits; turning his streaky jump shot into a consistent one would make Dieng a dangerous offensive weapon. He also finishes well through contact when he attacks the rim, but he avoids going there much of the time because of his relatively skinny frame.
Dieng had some very solid games for Milwaukee last season. Chief among them were a 19-point double-double against the Thunder and a 36-point, 10-assist outburst in a loss to Houston. However, these highs came with sluggish lows as he navigated tough shooting slumps and adjusted to greater responsibilities in Milwaukee.
All in all, Dieng’s contract, age, and portfolio for Milwaukee make him an intriguing piece for the future, but also give him trade value, as Jack noted in his trade value rankings. If, for whatever reason, Jon Horst decides to ship Dieng out before the trade deadline, he can expect a decent return.
Who have you got at seventh?
