4 Young players Thunder should develop, 1 to give up on
By Tyler Watts
Give up: Ousmane Dieng
The Thunder traded multiple first-round selections to get 11th overall from the Knicks in 2022 where they chose Dieng. The 6’10 forward has an intriguing skill set and a massive ceiling but has done little to impress in his two seasons in Oklahoma City.
Dieng averages just 4.5 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 13.0 minutes per game for his NBA career. He has appeared mostly in the G League but has not dominated at the lower level. He produced 0.082 win shares per 48 minutes during the 2023-24 regular season, which is significantly below the league average of 0.100.
Dieng has an inconsistent jumper and produced a mixed bag of playmaking. The 21-year-old still has immense potential, but he is not close to joining the Thunder’s rotation. The addition of Isaiah Hartenstein means more minutes for Chet Holmgren at the four. Deing will be out of the nightly mix again with just two seasons before becoming a restricted free agent in 2025.
Ousmane Dieng could still blossom into a key piece, but it does not look likely. The Thunder are fine to keep his rookie deal on their books but should move on if some franchise is willing to pay for him. The Oklahoma City Thunder just do not have the minutes to help him reach his ceiling.