SACRAMENTO KINGS

Kings Free Agent Target Profile: Dewayne Dedmon

Jun 25, 2019, 6:00 AM

(Photo by Kevin C.  Cox/Getty Images)...

(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Welcome to KHTK’s Kings free agency profiles! Here we’ll be breaking down some of the top players the Kings should target in free agency, analyzing their career numbers, fit with the Kings and potential downsides. We’ll also assign a priority score to each player, signifying how strongly the Kings should consider pursuing a given free agent.

The Player

After struggling through a four-year span that saw him average 4.3 points and 5.1 rebounds per game, Dewayne Dedmon found new life after joining the Hawks in 2017. Dedmon has upped his averages to 10.4 points and 7.7 rebounds over 126 games (98 starts) with Atlanta. He’s also developed into a rim protector on the defensive end with 1.1 blocks and 1.1 steals per game last season.

The Fit

Sacramento ranked fourth in the league in three-point field goal percentage in 2018-19, which bodes well for the possibility of adding Dedmon. The seven-footer surprised many around the league last season as he shot 38.2 percent from downtown. That number isn’t inflated by a small sample size either. Dedmon took 217 three-pointers last year and drilled 83.

That is a lot of threes from a starting center. For comparison, newly crowned NBA champion Marc Gasol, who is known for his range, shot 36 percent from three-point land on 273 attempts. While Dedmon isn’t considered in the same tier as Gasol, the numbers don’t lie when it comes to their three-point prowess. Dedmon ranked third out of all centers in three-point percentage, only trailing Minnesota’s Karl Anthony-Towns and Indiana’s Myles Turner.

YouTube video

Rebounding is also a strength for Dedmon despite averaging just 7.5 rebounds per game last season. That number is deceivingly low though thanks to his 25.1 minutes per game. Dedmon averaged 10.7 rebounds per 36 minutes last season. Sacramento’s Marvin Bagley III posted 10.8 rebounds per 36 as a rookie.

Dedmon’s ability to stretch the floor and pull down rebounds while playing above average defense would bring immediate value to Sacramento, especially for the price that Dedmon would command.

The Catch

Dedmon and Willie Cauley-Stein have very similar numbers, which could deter some Kings fans from getting excited about the possible acquisition. But when it is all said and done, there isn’t really a “catch” to kicking the tires on the veteran center or signing him to a multi-year deal.

With Harrison Barnes looking to lengthen his deal and other glaring issues that need to be addressed, signing Dedmon to a two-year deal in the $19-to-20 million range would be a solid signing for Sacramento. In a sense, they would be replacing Kosta Koufos’ contract with a more productive player in Dedmon.

The Priority

Unless the Kings are putting up a smokescreen, they are not expected to go after a max-level center like Nikola Vucevic. For the price and production they would receive, signing Dedmon would only benefit a team that will look to push the pace and shoot a lot of three-pointers in 2019-20.

Priority Score: 8.5/10

Newsletter

Sacramento Kings

Sasha Vezenkov #7 of the Sacramento Kings shoots the ball against the Golden State Warriors in the ...

Brenden Nunes

Sasha Vezenkov working to return from grade three right ankle sprain

On January 22nd, the Atlanta Hawks came into Golden 1 Center to face off against the Sacramento Kings. During the action, Sasha Vezenkov checked in for the fifth consecutive night despite being questionable with a left ankle injury he suffered in practice days prior. Unfortunately, the reigning Euroleague MVP suffered a moderate right ankle sprain […]

4 hours ago

De'Aaron Fox #5 of the Sacramento Kings guards Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks in the first...

Joseph Jarosz

Sam Amick on where the Sacramento Kings will be at the end of the season

With 10 games left in the season, the Sacramento Kings find themselves in an arms race for the sixth and final playoff spot. Where will they end the year?

10 hours ago

Domantas Sabonis #10 of the Sacramento Kings and Kyrie Irving #11 of the Dallas Mavericks go for a ...

Brenden Nunes

Sacramento Kings need to limit turnovers and increased physicality in Friday’s rematch

Sacramento Kings need to improve turnovers and physicality Friday After suffering a costly 132-96 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday, the Sacramento Kings get a chance for redemption on Friday.

11 hours ago

Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks passes the ball over Keegan Murray #13 of the Sacramento Ki...

Joseph Jarosz

Jason Anderson: The final playoff spot will come down to the Kings or Mavs

Jason Anderson, Sacramento Kings reporter for the Sacramento Bee, joined The Drive Guys to discuss the final push for the playoffs, another matchup with the Mavericks looming after Tuesday's loss, and more.

14 hours ago

Kyrie Irving #11 of the Dallas Mavericks is guarded by Harrison Barnes #40 of the Sacramento Kings ...

Brenden Nunes

Western Conference Standings Update: Kings fall back to play-in after loss to Dallas

The Sacramento Kings Tuesday night loss to the Dallas Mavericks was costly in the Western Conference standings race.

1 day ago

Kyrie Irving #11 of the Dallas Mavericks is guarded by Chris Duarte #3 of the Sacramento Kings in t...

Joseph Jarosz

Kayte Christensen on if fatigue factored into the Kings loss to Dallas

Kayte Christensen joined Sactown Sports to talk about the Sacramento Kings 132-96 loss to the Dallas Mavericks Tuesday night. 

2 days ago

Kings Free Agent Target Profile: Dewayne Dedmon