Feb. 4, 2026, 5:42 p.m. CT
Forever linked to the Oklahoma City Thunder because of their 2025 NBA championship, Ousmane Dieng closed the first chapter of his career. In a two-sequence move, he landed on the Chicago Bulls as part of the trade deadline.
The Thunder needed to make a roster spot for Jared McCain, whom they added in a buy-low move by the Philadelphia 76ers. It only made sense that it was Dieng. The 22-year-old is on an expiring $6.7 salary. Buried on the depth chart, he needed a fresh start.
Even though Dieng struggled to carve out a rotation spot in his four seasons, he spoke glowingly about his time in OKC. Hours after he was dealt, he went to Instagram to pen a farewell letter.
“After 4 years here, it’s hard to put into words what this place means to me. From my teammates to the coaches, the staff, and the fans — thank you for the love, the trust, and the energy every single day,” Dieng wrote. “I grew a lot here, as a player and as a man. The work, the memories — I’ll always carry them with me. Forever grateful.”
The Thunder added Dieng with the No. 11 pick of the 2022 NBA draft. He was viewed as a long-term project. Because of OKC’s quick ascension to a title contender, paired with inconsistency, he never really had the chance to get a rotation spot.
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Dieng will have two months to showcase why he should get a second NBA contract. He’s set to become a restricted free agent. It’ll be interesting to see if the Bulls give him an honest shot to play real minutes. He’s shown flashes as an on-ball creator.