The defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder acquired center Mason Plumlee from the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for forward Ousmane Dieng, who was rerouted by Charlotte to the Chicago Bulls as part of the transaction. Oklahoma City adds Plumlee to bolster its frontcourt depth, while Charlotte receives Dieng along with a 2029 second-round pick from the Thunder.
Dieng, the 11th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, struggled to carve out a consistent role in Oklahoma City’s rotation. Over four seasons and 136 games with the Thunder, he averaged 4.2 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.0 assists, appearing in fewer than 40 games each year. Despite his potential, Dieng was unable to establish himself as a regular contributor.
Plumlee, a 13-year NBA veteran, had been used sparingly in Charlotte after rejoining the team as a free agent in July 2025. In 14 games this season before undergoing groin surgery in December, he averaged career lows of 1.6 points in 8.8 minutes per contest. Oklahoma City hopes the veteran’s experience and size will help solidify its interior rotation as it defends its title, while Charlotte looks to develop Dieng and add future assets through the draft pick included in the deal.
