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Ousmane Dieng Traded 3 Times Before Landing with Bucks
The 22-year-old forward has found a home in Milwaukee after a whirlwind trade deadline.
Feb. 21, 2026 at 4:55pm
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Ousmane Dieng, a 22-year-old forward, was traded three times in less than 48 hours before the NBA trade deadline, going from the Thunder to the Hornets to the Bulls and finally landing with the Milwaukee Bucks. Despite the chaotic journey, Dieng has made the most of his opportunity with the Bucks, putting up strong performances in his first two games with the team.
Why it matters
Dieng's story highlights the unpredictable nature of the NBA trade deadline and the challenges young players can face when being moved to new teams. However, his strong play with the Bucks suggests he has the potential to carve out a meaningful role, even after the upheaval of being traded multiple times.
The details
In the span of a few days, Dieng was traded from the Thunder to the Hornets, then to the Bulls, and finally to the Bucks. Despite the chaos, he made the most of his opportunity, scoring 17 points with 5 3-pointers in his Bucks debut and then recording a season-high 19 points and 11 rebounds in his first start for Milwaukee.
- On February 4, Dieng was traded from the Thunder to the Hornets.
- Shortly after, Dieng was traded from the Hornets to the Bulls.
- As Dieng was on a flight to Toronto to join the Bulls, he was traded again, this time to the Bucks.
The players
Ousmane Dieng
A 22-year-old forward who was traded three times in less than 48 hours before landing with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
A star player for the Milwaukee Bucks who was selected to the 2023 NBA All-Star team.
Bobby Portis
A forward for the Milwaukee Bucks who was also selected to the 2023 NBA All-Star team.
Doc Rivers
The head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks.
Darvin Ham
The lead assistant coach for the Milwaukee Bucks.
What they’re saying
“It was a little crazy, but I'm excited to be here. I know they were trying to get me for a while here in Milwaukee, so I'm excited and just ready to help the team.”
— Ousmane Dieng (The Athletic)
“(He) knows how to play, that's the first thing we noticed. He can really put the ball on the floor. He can make plays. A natural three. Now we finally got a big three on our hands. (He's) really trying defensively; you can see that, as well.”
— Doc Rivers, Milwaukee Bucks Head Coach (The Athletic)
“I think he's just scratching the surface. He's so young, and just his size, his athleticism, his smarts … some of the passes he made, some of the finishes, the 3s, the defense, like, he's just scratching the surface. We found a jewel.”
— Darvin Ham, Milwaukee Bucks Lead Assistant Coach (The Athletic)
What’s next
The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.
The takeaway
Ousmane Dieng's journey to Milwaukee highlights the unpredictable nature of the NBA trade deadline, but his strong play with the Bucks suggests he has the potential to carve out a meaningful role on the team. The Bucks see him as a 'jewel' they can develop, and his performance in his first two games has been a promising start.
