OKC Thunder: Is Ousmane Dieng's Roster Spot Safe for Next Season?

The Oklahoma City Thunder are retaining most of their NBA championship roster but face a potential decision regarding forward Ousmane Dieng. Dieng, entering the final season of his rookie contract, has primarily been a development project for the team over the past three years. While he has excelled in the G League, he has only shown occasional flashes of being an NBA contributor and currently holds a standard roster spot.

Following the trade of Dillon Jones to Washington to create a spot for Thomas Sorber, Dieng initially appeared safe. However, the article states that if the Thunder seek to make any further roster additions this offseason, Dieng is the most likely candidate to be cut to clear a spot. Oklahoma City's current situation makes additional moves seem unlikely, giving Dieng a good chance to start next season with the team.

Despite this, it wouldn't be surprising if the Thunder parted ways with Dieng to gain roster flexibility, a strategy they employed early last season. Furthermore, if a player on a two-way contract (like Branden Carlson or Brooks Barnhizer) performs exceptionally well at the start of next season, Dieng's roster position could become vulnerable.

The article notes that Thunder GM Sam Presti has a history of retaining draft picks until their final contract year to fully evaluate them, as seen with players like Darius Bazley and Aleksej Pokusevski. Therefore, keeping Dieng for next season wouldn't necessarily indicate confidence or a desire to retain him beyond 2026, but rather that the organization believes he deserves a final chance to showcase his skills and prove he belongs.

Ultimately, while Dieng still possesses potential to succeed in the NBA and could land elsewhere, the upcoming season represents a critical, and potentially final, opportunity for him to make a significant impact with the Thunder. If he remains on the roster, breaking through will be a significant challenge.