Young French forward lands with Chicago in deadline day trades
Ousmane Dieng has found a new home with the Chicago Bulls after completing a multi-team trade that sent the 22-year-old forward on a rapid journey from the Oklahoma City Thunder through the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday, as the NBA nears its trade deadline on Thursday.
The Thunder initiated the deal by sending Dieng and a 2029 second-round pick to the Hornets in exchange for Mason Plumlee, a veteran center. The move was financially motivated, allowing Oklahoma City to save $4.4 million in salary-cap space—money needed to accommodate their acquisition of Jared McCain from Philadelphia.
The Hornets then immediately redirected Dieng to Chicago as part of a larger three-team transaction. In the deal, the Bulls sent Coby White and Mike Conley to Charlotte in exchange for Collin Sexton, Dieng, and three second-round picks.
A Fresh Start for a Promising Talent
Dieng, the 11th overall pick in the 2022 draft, never developed into a consistent rotation player during his three-and-a-half seasons with the Thunder. He appeared in 136 regular season games while averaging 4.2 points and 2.1 rebounds in just 12 minutes per game. However, at 22 years old, the French forward represents potential upside for a Bulls roster in the midst of an aggressive roster overhaul.
Chicago has been active ahead of the deadline, adding young talent alongside established contributors. The Bulls believe Dieng’s youth and timeline align with the trajectory of their young core as they look to build a competitive roster.
Hornets Push for Playoff Positioning
For Charlotte, acquiring Coby White represents a significant move as the team sits just one game behind Chicago for the 10th seed in the Eastern Conference. White, the longest-tenured player in Bulls franchise history at seven seasons, is averaging 18.6 points and 4.7 assists on 44% shooting this season. The Hornets have won seven consecutive games and eight of their past nine, positioning themselves for a potential play-in tournament run.
Mason Plumlee, acquired from the Hornets in the initial exchange with the Thunder, was subsequently waived by Oklahoma City to make roster room.
