Ousmane Dieng’s path to a bigger Bucks role has hit a very specific roadblock: Kyle Kuzma.
Milwaukee re-signed Dieng to a three-year deal this offseason, a move that says plenty about how the team views him. The Bucks clearly want him around. They just may not have a major opening for him right away, because Kuzma looks positioned to handle the starting power forward job when the season opens.
Nothing is locked in yet, since Milwaukee is still shaping its camp roster, but it would be a surprise if Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kuzma weren’t the opening-night starters at forward. That setup also fits Taylor Jenkins, who is returning to coaching in his first season with the Bucks.
Kuzma’s place in the lineup isn’t just about experience. Milwaukee will also want him on the floor as much as possible to try to build up his value as a trade chip.
Right now, his market is not exactly strong, with many considering him a negative asset. But a strong start could change that conversation, especially with his expiring contract.
That leaves Dieng in a more limited role for now, likely as the backup power forward.
He has spent time at small forward during his career, but the four is where he fits best, and that appears to be the spot Milwaukee has in mind for him. Unless he blows the doors off in camp, he’s probably going to have to wait behind Kuzma. If a trade happens during the season, though, Dieng could be the one who benefits most, with a promotion suddenly opening up.
Even with the current logjam, there’s plenty to like about Dieng’s fit. He’s still developing, which makes sense for a 23-year-old who handled the biggest role of his career last season. And with Taylor Jenkins guiding the group, Milwaukee has a strong player development coach in place to help push him forward.
For now, Dieng’s next step is simple: build on what he showed last year and keep improving across the board.
In Other News...
Bucks Suddenly Have A Frontcourt Question That Could Define This Rebuild
The Bucks post-Giannis reset has pushed a new frontcourt conversation into the spotlight, and it starts with how Milwaukee sorts out the center spot. After the trade to Miami, the team brought in Kelel Ware as a young piece for the future while keeping Myles Turner and Jericho Sims on the roster, giving the rebuild a mix of size, experience and upside to sort through as it moves forward.
Turner is still under contract despite a disappointing previous season, and the early focus is on getting him more comfortable in Milwaukees system and chemistry with the group. Ware is expected to bring depth and developmental potential off the bench, while Sims is back after exercising his player option following a solid season, leaving the Bucks with options but also a question that could shape how the next phase takes form. [Read more 🡒]
Bucks Forward Rotation Just Sent A Message Fans Cant Ignore
The Bucks spent part of the summer doing due diligence on the forward market, and Peyton Watson was on that radar before the conversation with Denver went any further. Milwaukee had preliminary talks with the Nuggets about Watson but never got to the point of making an official offer, and the young forward eventually landed in Cleveland instead. For a team still sorting out how it wants to round out its rotation, it was a reminder that the front office is keeping an eye on options even if nothing materializes right away.
For now, Milwaukee is leaning on its current group of forwards, with Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kyle Kuzma among the names expected to carry much of the load. The message is pretty clear: the Bucks are willing to wait if the right move is not there today, but they also know the position could use help down the line. That makes the trade market worth watching, because the search for another forward does not feel finished just because one target is off the board. [Read more 🡒]
Clippers Just Landed In A Brutal Conversation About Their Future
The latest leaguewide projection rundown has put the Bucks in some unexpectedly awkward company, with NBA Analysis Network naming them among the five worst teams for the coming season. It is the kind of early forecast that says as much about perception as it does about results, but it still lands with a jolt for a Milwaukee team that has spent recent years thinking in far different terms. The list leans on recent trades, roster changes and rebuilding moves around the league, offering a snapshot of how quickly the conversation can shift.
For Milwaukee, the bigger issue is not the ranking itself but what it says about the doubts circling the roster heading into the season. The projection is speculative, of course, and the expected win totals are only a forecast, not a verdict, but being grouped with teams navigating clear transitions adds another layer of pressure to a Bucks season that will already be judged against a very high standard. Whether this is a temporary bad read or a sign of a tougher road ahead is the question hanging over the team now. [Read more 🡒]