The Milwaukee Bucks didn’t waste much time once free agency opened. They moved fast to bring back forward Ousmane Dieng on a three-year deal worth $17.5 million, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. That’s a solid commitment for a guy who only played 30 games in Milwaukee after arriving via trade from the Oklahoma City Thunder at the midseason deadline.
Dieng, 23, finally got real minutes with the Bucks. In Oklahoma City he was glued to the end of the bench. But in Milwaukee he started 20 of those 30 games and put up 11.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game. His shooting numbers weren’t elite — 42.3 percent from the field and 33.1 percent from three — but the counting stats show a player who can contribute when given a real role.
Charania reported that the deal was finalized between the Bucks and Dieng’s agents, Michael Tellem of Excel Sports Management and Marius Rutkauskas. The team clearly liked what they saw down the stretch and didn’t want to let him test the market.
From Afterthought to Rotation Piece
Dieng was the 11th overall pick in the 2022 draft, and for a while it looked like he might become another lottery pick who never quite found his footing. The Thunder had a logjam of young wings and playmakers, and Dieng couldn’t crack the rotation. Then the trade happened, and everything changed.
He got an opportunity in Milwaukee partly because of injuries and roster turnover, but he made the most of it. The Bucks have been searching for younger, more athletic wings to put around Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard. Dieng isn’t a star, but he’s 6-foot-9 with a handle and can guard multiple positions. That kind of versatility fits what Milwaukee needs.
The contract is structured at roughly $5.8 million per year, which is reasonable for a former first-rounder who just showed he can play. If Dieng keeps developing, this could end up being a bargain.
What This Means for the Bucks
Milwaukee had some cap flexibility issues coming into the offseason, so locking in a rotation wing on a manageable deal matters. Dieng is still only 23, so there’s room for growth, especially with his outside shooting. If he can get that three-point percentage up into the high 30s, he becomes a real problem for opposing defenses.
The Bucks haven’t made any other major moves yet, but this was one of the early dominoes to fall in this year’s free agency period. For a team trying to stay competitive in the East, keeping a young guy who already fits the system is smart business.
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