What Does a Successful Season For Ousmane Dieng Look Like?

It was understood early that Ousmane Dieng was being drafted in the situation that he would need to be developed and would be considered a "project."

After an impressive rookie year with both highs and lows, Dieng has the ability to begin carving out a long-term role for himself. But what does that look like?

Aleksej Pokusevski, someone who Dieng would be challenging for a role on this team, given the nature of their position and potential roles. The NBA world is harsh, and to no discredit to Pokusevski, injuries have hindered his ability to grow into the connector role that he seemed to be panning into.

Ahead of training camp and a new season, Pokusevski suffered a right ankle sprain, and the door is wide open for Dieng to display his progression as a play early on.

However, when a prospect is considered a "project," not much is expected of them that's substantial in year two, and flashes of what's to come are more expected than consistent play and win-now talent.

Dieng has the ability to show his offseason work and all of those flashes, but first, he needs to show more growth and maturity as a player. That's what Pokusevski did as he was starting to thrive last season before his first injury. He looked mature and confident on the court and played much more intentionally.

If Dieng can remain immersed on both sides of the ball, actively being a connector on both sides of the floor, he will remain playable and be able to grow even further as a player.

Measuring success for Dieng this season goes beyond shooting a certain threshold from the field or beyond the arc, but more so how he is able to fit on both sides of the ball, and if he is able to do that, the rest will follow.

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