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The Milwaukee Bucks have backed Ousmane Dieng with a three-year contract this offseason, but he may not immediately claim a leading role. A clearer path to minutes appears blocked by veteran forward Kyle Kuzma, who looks poised to start at power forward when the regular season begins.
Kuzma expected to open as a starter
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Milwaukee is still finalizing its training-camp roster, yet the early indication is that Kyle Kuzma and Jaime Jaquez Jr. will be the opening-night forwards. Those pairings give new coach Taylor Jenkins experienced options to rely on as he returns to coaching in his first season with the Bucks.
The team also has a clear motive to keep Kuzma on the court: showcasing him as a potential trade asset. Right now his market value is muted, and some evaluators view him as a negative asset. A strong start, however, could flip that perception—especially because his contract is expiring.
That combination of experience and tradeability makes Kuzma the likeliest option to get heavy minutes early in the year.
Dieng likely to begin as the backup four
Despite the multi-year deal signaling organizational confidence, Ousmane Dieng will probably come off the bench initially. Although he has filled small forward roles before, his skill set projects best at power forward for the Bucks.
Unless Dieng dominates in camp, the coaching staff appears ready to use him as the primary backup at the four. That role could change if a midseason Kuzma trade occurs—Dieng would be the natural beneficiary and could move into a starting spot.
At 23, Dieng remains a work in progress after taking on the biggest role of his career last season. With Jenkins overseeing player development, the Bucks have coaching resources that could accelerate his growth if he seizes the opportunity.
For now, Dieng’s immediate task is straightforward: build on last season’s promise and continue improving across the board.
