Knicks select Dieng with 11th overall selection, reportedly deal him to OKC
With the No. 11 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, the New York Knicks selected New Zealand Breakers forward Ousmane Dieng.
Following the selection, Dieng was traded by New York to the Oklahoma City Thunder, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reports. Oklahoma City is sending three 2023 protected first-round picks to the Knicks as part of the deal, sources told The Athletic's Shams Charania.
A native of France, Dieng left his home country this season to participate in the NBL "Next Stars" program. Coming into the year as a highly regarded prospect, he struggled mightily to begin the campaign before finishing strong. Still, overall numbers of 8.7 points and 3.2 rebounds per game on 40% shooting and 27% from beyond the arc aren't overly encouraging.
Despite standing at 6-foot-8, Dieng prefers to be deployed as a guard or wing, frequently running pick-and-rolls as the ball-handler and spotting up on the 3-point line for jumpers. When his shot started to fall in the second half of the NBL season, Dieng's entire game seemed to open up. It's clear his shooting efficiency is a swing skill required for him to reach his potential.
At just 19 years of age, Dieng's frame and athleticism, paired with flashes of guard skills, make him an intriguing long-term project. His chances of providing quality minutes on an NBA floor as a rookie remains in question, though.
Bio
Position: Forward
Team: New Zealand Breakers
Age: 19 years old
Height: 6-foot-8
Weight: 216 lbs
Wingspan: N/A
Max Vertical: N/A
Strengths
- Uses his frame to run the court well with big strides
- Shooting form is solid, second-half numbers show 3-point potential
- Above-average on-ball vision for a forward
- Young, inexperienced prospect with tremendous room to grow
Weaknesses
- In-game numbers don't match supposed skill set
- Limited defensive production despite size and athletic profile
- Poor rebounder given thin frame