Ousmane Dieng gave the Milwaukee Bucks a little bit of everything in preseason, and that’s exactly why he’s the kind of forward they can’t afford to lose track of.
After sitting out the opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Dieng responded against his old OKC squad with a performance that didn’t scream for headlines but did plenty to catch the eye. In 22 and a half minutes, he posted eight points, seven assists, and five rebounds, helping fuel a Bucks second-half comeback while flashing the kind of all-around game that makes him so intriguing.
The passing was the loudest part of the night. Dieng wasn’t just moving the ball around; he was steering the offense.
He found interior options like Myles Turner or Sims, kicked to an open Kasparas Jakucionis, and hit Nate Ament on a cut. That kind of feel matters, especially for a team that already has a collection of ball-handling guards.
A forward who can ease some of that load is a useful weapon.
He also chipped in offensively in simpler ways, scoring three baskets and knocking down a pair of free throws. The one area that didn’t connect was the outside shot, as he missed both of his three-point attempts. Still, most of his damage came around the rim, and he stayed active on the glass, getting himself in position and finishing possessions for a Bucks team that needed more of that kind of effort last season.
At 6-foot-9, Dieng fits the mold of a rare do-it-all forward. He can score, pass, and rebound, and the Bucks already saw a larger role from him late last season. If he keeps building on that, there’s clearly more there to uncover.
The bigger question now is where he fits in a crowded and unsettled forward group. Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kyle Kuzma, Nate Ament, Bogoljub Markovic, and Pete Nance have all been part of the mix, but none of them has separated himself during the preseason. That leaves the door open, whether the Bucks are looking at the three or the four, and versatility may be the trait that matters most in deciding who claims the spot.
Defense remains the swing skill for Dieng. His size and length give him the tools to be excellent on that end, but last season only offered flashes. To lock in a long-term place with the Bucks, he’ll need that side of the floor to catch up with everything else he already brings.
In Other News...
Jaime Jaquez Jr. Is Giving The Bucks A Tough Early Decision
Jaime Jaquez Jr.s first few preseason outings in Milwaukee have not offered much comfort for a team trying to sort out its long-term picture. Through the first two games, the young wing has had trouble finding a rhythm, and the early returns have only complicated the Bucks evaluation of where he fits as they continue building out the roster.
The timing makes it especially tricky because Milwaukee has a decision looming on whether to lock in a rookie-scale extension before the October 19 deadline. With Jaquez still searching for cleaner production and a more convincing on-court case, the Bucks are left weighing patience against the risk of waiting too long to settle a key piece of business. [Read more 🡒]
Ryan Rollins Is Already Forcing A Bucks Backcourt Debate
With the Bucks still reshaping themselves after the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, the early preseason has already offered a small but telling glimpse into how the backcourt might sort itself out. Ryan Rollins has taken advantage of the opening, playing with a steadier feel and a clear willingness to organize the offense, the kind of early tone-setting that can matter on a roster still learning itself.
Tyler Herro, by contrast, is still searching for his rhythm, and the contrast has been hard to miss in the first exhibition games. Preseason is a thin reed to lean on, especially with so much of the season still ahead, but the Bucks at least have a real discussion forming around who should steer the backcourt first when the games start counting. [Read more 🡒]
Brayden Burries Is Forcing A Bucks Rotation Question
Brayden Burries kept making the kind of late-game plays that can change a preseason conversation fast. In Milwaukees win over Oklahoma City, he supplied a burst of scoring in the closing minutes, added rebounds and chipped in on the defensive end, showing the sort of composure and two-way energy that coaches tend to notice when rotation spots are still unsettled.
For a Bucks team still sorting out its bench mix, Burries has at least created a real question. Taylor Jenkins has already pointed to defense as the area that could determine whether the rookie gets more court time, and that makes the next stretch of preseason work especially important. If Burries can keep bringing the same poise while proving he can stay in the right spots defensively, the case for a larger role gets a lot harder to ignore. [Read more 🡒]