It did not take Dewayne Dedmon long to find out how dysfunctional a franchise they run in Sacramento. Just half a season into his first year with the Kings, he has already made it clear that he wants out. And realistically, when that happens with a player nowadays, you really have little choice and leverage. But don’t tell the Vlade Divac that!
According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, the Hawks have interest in a reunion with Dedmon, who was a quality starter during his time in Atlanta the past two seasons, and seemed to love the franchise, The Kings offered him a deal that was too good to refuse, but that has not been enough to keep him happy.
Dedmon is averaging 14.2 minutes per game and 5.0 points, so you would think he could be a relatively cheap fix in terms of assets, considering he’s making over $13 million a year. We will see if Divac’s stance changes, but realistically, unless it is some sort of player swap, he is not getting anything more than a second-rounder or two, and there are only a handful of teams with cap space this upcoming offseason.
From the Hawks perspective, that must be the set price, and then the decision becomes a financial one. They have a boatload of money coming off the books this offseason, but there are a limited number of quality free agents. They will have to decide if they feel he is worth $13.33 million annually for the next couple of years. If they are looking to go big during the Giannis free agency in 2021, it may become tough to find someone to take on that expiring contract. Financial flexibility is the key, and if Schlenk were willing to give him that money this offseason, he would still be a Hawk.
However, things have changed a bit. The Hawks have to realize just how much they miss a presence like Dedmon. Not only is he an excellent rim protector and rebounder, but his veteran leadership cannot be understated. Atlanta is sorely lacking in all three areas, and it’s led to them owning a league-worst 8-31 record. This could be the right move for both sides.