Just over a week after being traded by the Oklahoma City Thunder, Ousmane Dieng is making waves in Milwaukee - and he’s doing it fast enough to make OKC fans do a double take.
In his first two games seeing real minutes with the Bucks, the third-year forward has turned heads with averages of 18 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists. More telling than the box score?
Milwaukee has outscored opponents by 22 points with Dieng on the floor. That’s not just production - that’s impact.
For Thunder fans, this might feel like déjà vu. Dieng is quickly becoming the latest in a growing list of former OKC players who’ve found their stride after leaving the team.
Take Ty Jerome. After two seasons in Oklahoma City, Jerome’s career trajectory looked uncertain.
But in Cleveland, he found his rhythm, putting up 12.5 points per game last season as a key bench piece. Now with Memphis, he’s taken yet another leap, averaging 19.7 points and 6 assists through his first six games - and doing it with confidence.
Then there’s Josh Giddey. OKC moved on from the Australian guard after the 2023-24 season, and he’s responded in Chicago by becoming a near triple-double machine.
In a season and a half with the Bulls, Giddey’s averaged 15.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 7.7 assists per game. Before a hamstring injury sidelined him, he was putting together a campaign worthy of All-Star buzz.
So, what’s going on here? Is this a Thunder talent evaluation problem - or just the byproduct of a team with too much young talent to keep everyone?
It's a fair question, but the answer might not be as critical as it seems. While these players are thriving elsewhere, the Thunder haven’t exactly missed a beat. In fact, they’ve continued to build a contender, and in some cases, the moves have worked out beautifully on both ends.
Take the Giddey trade. OKC shipped him to Chicago and got Alex Caruso in return - a veteran defender whose presence helped stabilize the roster during last season’s championship run. That’s a pretty good return.
As for Dieng, his departure opened the door for Jared McCain, the dynamic sophomore guard acquired from Philadelphia. McCain’s already made his presence felt off the bench, bringing a mix of quickness, shooting, and ball-handling that’s added a new layer to OKC’s second unit. His fit with the Thunder’s up-tempo system has been seamless.
So while it’s easy to point at Dieng’s breakout and wonder “what if,” the reality is more nuanced. Oklahoma City isn’t letting talent slip through the cracks so much as they’re making calculated decisions in a crowded rotation. Not every young player can get the minutes they need to develop in a system loaded with rising stars.
And let’s be honest - GM Sam Presti isn’t losing sleep over these moves. The Thunder are still stacked, still young, and still winning. If Dieng, Giddey, and Jerome find success elsewhere, it’s not a knock on OKC - it’s a testament to the depth of talent they’ve accumulated.
As long as Mark Daigneault and company keep stacking wins - and maybe another ring - the Thunder will gladly tip their cap to their former players lighting it up in new uniforms.