Bucks decline qualifying offer to Ousmane Dieng, interested in new deal

The Milwaukee Bucks have declined to tender Ousmane Dieng a qualifying offer June 29, but that doesn’t close the door on him returning to the team.

HoopsHype, a USA TODAY NETWORK property, reported the move, which makes the 6-foot-9 forward an unrestricted free agent. But HoopsHype also reported the Bucks have “significant interest” in signing Dieng to a new deal.

Dieng’s qualifying offer would have been $8.7 million, but the Journal Sentinel previously reported the team wasn’t likely to go that high and would prefer to offer Dieng a multi-year deal at a lower number.

The 23-year-old Dieng was acquired by the Bucks at the trade deadline and was lauded as a quick learner. He played in 30 games with Milwaukee, starting 20, and averaged 11.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Bucks decline qualifying offer to Ousmane Dieng, interested in new deal