With the NBA season starting in about a week, it is time to look ahead to the trade deadline. The Thunder have been very active during the trade deadline in the last couple of years. Whether it is trading away players for future picks or adding talent to the roster. This year, the Thunder have one of the deepest and most talented rosters in the entire NBA. In addition, they have many first-round picks and second-round picks for the next couple of years. They are in a position for the first time in a while where they don’t have to be active during the trade deadline. However, one player they could move is Ousmane Dieng.
When the New York Knicks selected Dieng with the 11th pick of the 2022 draft and traded his rights to the Thunder. They knew Dieng would be a project player who would take time to develop. Dieng is now entering his third year in the NBA and has been fairly impressive so far; he almost dropped a triple-double in one of the preseason games. Suppose Ousmane Dieng continues to show flashes this year of why he was selected high in the 2022 draft, the Thunder could take advantage and move him during the trade deadline.
Ousmane Dieng Could Become Available For The Trade Deadline
Why The Thunder Would Trade Ousmane Dieng
As mentioned above, the Thunder are in a position where they don’t have to be active for the trade deadline. However, certain circumstances could arise where they need to make a move. One of those circumstances is if any significant injuries happen. The Thunder were lucky last year to be one of the healthier teams in the playoffs and are hoping to avoid any major injury again this year. Nevertheless, if any significant injury happens where one of their top guys is out for the year or multiple months or something along those lines it could drive Sam Presti and company to make a move to keep their title aspirations alive, and Dieng could be a part of that.
Another reason could be looking ahead with the future draft picks they have. The Thunder could have three first-round picks next year in the 2025 draft. However, if they re-sign Alex Caruso, they will only have one roster spot available. Trading away Dieng, who has two more years on his rookie deal, would free up another spot for those three first-round picks.
The Thunder Timeline Doesn’t Line up With Dieng’s Anymore
When the Thunder added Dieng, they were still in a rebuild. They also knew Dieng’s development would take time and were hoping that when they were ready to compete, Dieng would be a big part of that. This was very prevalent in Dieng’s first two years as he spent most of his time in the G League. However, they didn’t realize they would be ready to compete as fast as they were. This forced their hand, and they went out and got Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein to help them compete for a championship. These moves pushed Dieng even farther on the depth chart than he already was. In his two years with the Thunder, Dieng has averaged 13 minutes and 4.5 points. With the Thunder trying to compete for a title, there will be even fewer opportunities available for the 6-foot-10 forward.
This year, with the injuries to Kenrich Williams and Jaylin Williams, Dieng has had many opportunities to showcase his skills during the preseason. Dieng has shown more flashes in these preseason games than he did in his first two seasons. In the preseason, it seems like Dieng is finally starting to put all the pieces together but isn’t quite ready yet. However, the Thunder are ready to compete for a championship, and Dieng isn’t ready to be a high contributor on a championship team.
The Thunder Rookies Have Been Impressive
Dillon Jones and Ajay Mitchell have played extremely well in the preseason. They have taken advantage of the opportunity they have been given with the injuries the Thunder have been dealt so far. In some cases, they have even outplayed Dieng, and they are only rookies still with room to grow. With them playing as well as they are, and it continues to go that way. It will only make it easier for the Thunder to be willing to let go of Dieng if they need to. Losing Dieng wouldn’t hurt the depth as much as it would have if the rookies weren’t playing as well as they were. Finally, much like Dieng Jones is versatile and can play multiple positions. Since Dieng has fewer years left on his deal, and the Thunder can’t pay everybody, Jones’s emergence has made Dieng more expandable than he ever has been before.
The Last Word on Ousmane Dieng
The Thunder are in a great position, and they have a lot of depth and a lot of future picks. They don’t necessarily have to make a move during the trade deadline. However, if certain circumstances arise, they have the ability and assets to make a trade if need be. Dieng has been impressive and is starting to show why he deserves to get minutes in the NBA. Even though he is starting to put all the pieces together and is playing well it might be in the best interest of the Thunder and Dieng to go in separate ways as their timelines aren’t aligned anymore. Ultimately, Dieng will likely be the player they trade if the Thunder make a move at the deadline.
