The Milwaukee Bucks have been eliminated from playoff contention, but that doesn’t mean their young players have nothing to play for. Quite the opposite is true of forward Ousmane Dieng, who will be a restricted free agent this summer. Ending his season with a flourish could materially impact his next contract, letting the Bucks know he’s ready to be paid. Over the final nine games, that’s precisely the message he’ll be working to send.
Last chapter of the season is Dieng’s time to shine
Dieng has been excellent in 20 games for the Bucks, spacing the floor with his shooting, making plays off the bounce, and using his length to make disruptive plays on defense. He has been even more consistently productive since returning from an illness earlier this month. In that six-game span, Dieng is averaging 13 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game on 45 percent shooting from distance.
He should continue to have ample chances down the stretch as the Bucks hold Giannis Antetokounmpo out of the lineup. Kevin Porter Jr. is likely done for the year with a knee injury, according to head coach Doc Rivers. That leaves an enormous void of production that Dieng will be eager to fill.
It’s also a major opportunity. As a restricted free agent this offseason, he will not have full leverage to determine his market value, but he can help his cause by continuing to look like a core piece of the organization’s future.
Dieng can seal the deal by making most of remaining games
If Milwaukee doesn’t snag a small forward in the draft, retaining Dieng will be all the more critical. While not a conventional small forward, he has proven to be the roster’s best option at the position as a two-way playmaker. Could he be the small forward of the future? Absolutely.
Exciting as Dieng has been thus far, the former 11th overall pick may only be scratching the surface. He never had a chance to bloom in Oklahoma City, where he was stuck at the bottom of a championship rotation. Then Dieng joined the Bucks and boom!, he immediately capitalized on his first legitimate shot for playing time.
In just his third game in Milwaukee, he delivered a career-best performance against his old team, a 19-point double-double. There have been ups and downs, but Dieng hasn’t looked back since that statement of an outing.
The Bucks shouldn’t need to see much else, if anything, to be convinced that retaining Dieng must be a priority. He can erase any trace of doubt by capping off his audition on a high note.