Wizards Could Make Sense For Thunder Trade

The Washington Wizards could become trade partners with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Jeremy Brener | 11 Hours Ago

Nov 1, 2024; Portland, Oregon, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Ousmane Dieng (13) walks back into position after a break in play during the second quarter at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Brian Murphy-Imagn Images / Brian Murphy-Imagn Images

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Washington Wizards

The Washington Wizards couldn't be further from the Oklahoma City Thunder in terms of where they currently are.

The Wizards are the worst team in the Eastern Conference while the Thunder are on the rise, posting the best record in the Western Conference.

However, the two teams could come together for a trade for French big man Ousmane Dieng, according to Bleacher Report writer Greg Swartz.

"The Washington Wizards are the worst team in basketball. Any young player with a pulse should be on their trade target list in an attempt to bring this franchise back from the dead," Swartz writes.

"Dieng is another interesting prospect with size who needs a change of scenery."

Dieng, 21, was the No. 11 overall pick by the Thunder in the 2022 NBA Draft, one selection before Jalen Williams. However, Dieng hasn't developed at the same level and he has been limited to a bench role with the Thunder.

Dieng is averaging just 3.5 points per game for the Thunder this season, but that isn't quite a knock on his overall play. He simply hasn't been given the same opportunities as his teammates, who all joined the Thunder as young, raw prospects around the same team.

If Dieng were to enter a new spot like the Wizards, his potential could be given a chance to blossom. He would fit right in with fellow Frenchmen Bilal Coulibaly and Alex Sarr right in the middle of the frontcourt next to them.

His lean 6-10 frame allows him to defend multiple positions and pose matchup problems on the wing.

While his 3-point shooting could use a boost, it would be intriguing to see what happens with his percentage if he shot more 3-pointers, and the Wizards can offer him a chance to do that in a rebuilding situation much more than the contending Thunder.

Make sure you bookmark Washington Wizards on SI for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more!

Published 11 Hours Ago

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.