Ousmane Dieng was finally moved at the deadline, with the Oklahoma City Thunder getting out ahead of his looming restricted free agency.
In theory, this should be a good thing for Dieng. His opportunity with the Thunder was limited by the depth of the team's young core. For young players such as him, a change of scenery can reshape and revitalize careers.
Dieng, 22, will now get a fresh opportunity with a new organization. It's something he deserves after he failed to pan out with the Thunder.
Yet he has entered an organization without a clear direction in the Bucks, and he will soon come to realize that the grass is not always greener on the other side. This trade was an inevitability, but it could prove to be meaningless for the young forward.
Ousmane Dieng will still need to wait to find his opportunity
Although there were high hopes for Dieng when he was drafted given his frame and defensive skill-set, he never truly cracked the Thunder's rotation in his four years with the team. His minutes decreased with each successive season he spent in Oklahoma City.
Through 27 games this season, he was averaging just 3.7 points, 1.6 rebounds, and one assist while shooting 41.8% from the floor.
It was time for the Thunder to ship him off, and they did so through a series of trades that routed him to Charlotte, then to Chicago, and ultimately to Milwaukee.
Unfortunately, the Bucks don't have a clear path for Dieng to earn minutes. Even if Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is sidelined with a calf strain, takes a lengthy absence, Dieng could still be left out of the rotation. Milwaukee has both Kyle Kuzma and Bobby Portis at power forward, and Myles Turner and Jericho Sims have eaten up almost all of the minutes at center.
Dieng received a DNP in his first game with the Bucks.
Milwaukee's current turmoil in the wake of the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade request is well-documented, and their focus this offseason will either be on extending or trading the superstar.
Dieng has therefore entered another organization where his development will not be a priority. It's unclear what his value will be in restricted free agency, but it's truly unlikely the Bucks bring him back if they need to undergo an organizational reset.
It's an unfortunate reality, but Dieng might need to wait until his next stop (on a minimum contract) to truly get an opportunity to develop.