Ousmane Dieng is forever linked with the Oklahoma City Thunder as they win the 2025 NBA Championship, ending the first chapter of his career. Two moves later, he landed with the Chicago Bulls before the trade deadline.
The Thunder needed to keep a roster spot open for Jared McCain, who they added with the Philadelphia 76ers buying low. Only Dion makes sense. The 22-year-old’s $6.7MM salary is about to expire. Buried deep on the depth chart, he needs a fresh start.
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Although Dieng struggled to earn a rotation spot during his four seasons, he spoke glowingly about his time with the Thunder. Hours after being traded, he wrote a farewell letter on Instagram.
“After four years here, it’s hard to put into words what this place means to me. From my teammates to the coaches, staff and fans – thank you for your love, trust and energy every day,” Dieng wrote. “I grew a lot as a player and a man here. The work, the memories – I will always carry them with me. Forever grateful.”
The Thunder signed Dieng with the 11th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. He is viewed as a long-term project. With the Thunder quickly becoming a title contender and coupled with inconsistency, he never really had a chance to earn a rotation spot.
Dieng will have two months to show why he deserves a second NBA contract. He will become a restricted free agent. It will be interesting to see if the Bulls give him an honest chance to play real playing time. He showed flashes of being an on-ball creator.
This article originally appeared in OKC Thunder Wire: Ousmane Dieng writes farewell letter to OKC after trade to Bulls