Disgruntled Kings center Dewayne Dedmon speaks out: ‘I would like to be traded’
Kings center Dewayne Dedmon didn’t hold back while discussing his desire to get out of Sacramento less than six months after signing a three-year, $40 million contract with the Kings.
Dedmon confirmed he wants to be traded in an interview with The Sacramento Bee before Sunday’s game against the Denver Nuggets, saying he feels unappreciated and would prefer to play for a team that will utilize his unique skill set.
“I would like to be traded,” Dedmon told The Bee, speaking publicly about his trade request for the first time. “I haven’t been playing, so I would like to go somewhere where my talents are appreciated.”
Dedmon’s body language during Thursday’s loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves at Golden 1 Center hinted at the news to come the next day, when The Athletic’s Shams Charania, citing unnamed sources, reported Dedmon was asking for a trade. The Kings are listening to offers and there appears to be a market for Dedmon’s services, but a league source told The Bee any deal would have to make sense for the team and its future.
It wasn’t long ago that Dedmon, 30, Sacramento’s biggest free-agent acquisition, seemed to make sense for the team and its future. The Kings signed him in July, thinking he would be a perfect fit in a lineup featuring De’Aaron Fox, Buddy Hield, Harrison Barnes and Marvin Bagley III.
Kings general manager Vlade Divac and coach Luke Walton expected Dedmon to stretch defenses with his perimeter shooting while Bagley and Fox exploited increased floor spacing to punish opponents inside. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but Fox and Bagley have been hurt and Dedmon hasn’t held up his end of the bargain.
Dedmon is shooting just 22.9 percent from 3-point range after hitting 38.2 percent last season with the Atlanta Hawks. Opponents don’t even bother guarding him anymore. Instead, they sag off of him, packing the paint to stop penetration and rebound Dedmon’s misses.
Dedmon rejected the idea that he has played his way out of Walton’s rotation, saying he isn’t the only slumping shooter on the team. Hield and Barnes have also experienced prolonged shooting slumps.
“I’m not the only person struggling with my shot, so if that’s a factor then it’s kind of crazy,” Dedmon said. “If you’re not allowed to shoot through your slumps, I don’t know how you’re supposed to make shots.”
Dedmon started the first four games of the season, but he was relegated to a backup role after being outplayed by Richaun Holmes, another free-agent signing who came at a fraction of the cost. Dedmon remained in the rotation for 21 games, but he has appeared in only two contests since Dec. 6, logging a total of seven minutes in the past 12 games.
When reminded the Kings made a big investment in him and there might be time to turn his season around, Dedmon indicated he feels it is too late to salvage a future for himself in Sacramento.
“I appreciate it. I definitely appreciate it, but I want to be somewhere where I get to play,” Dedmon said. “That’s my biggest thing. I’m trying to play and I’ve been told I’m no longer in the rotation here, so there’s really nothing to wait on.”
The third year of Dedmon’s deal includes only $1 million in guaranteed money, which might make his contract easier to trade, but it’s unclear what the Kings can get in return. They could send him away in a deal that amounts to little more than a salary dump or they could try to package him with another player and draft picks for a bigger return.
CBS Sports identified the Los Angeles Clippers, Boston Celtics, Minnesota Timberwolves, Portland Trail Blazers and Hawks as potential suitors. The Dallas Mavericks and Orlando Magic might be interested as well.
Walton was asked before Friday’s game against the Phoenix Suns how he would handle a player who has made it clear he wants to be traded.
“He hasn’t made that clear to me,” Walton said. “It’s like I always say, ‘If it’s noise on the outside, leave it on the outside.’ If you have something and you want to bring it to me, I’ve got an open-door policy. We can talk about that, but as far as I know that’s outside news still. We’re focused on our group and what we need to do.”
Walton could play Dedmon in hopes of helping him rediscover his stroke, as he did after enduring similar struggles last season in Atlanta, or he could leave him at the end of the bench. The first approach might increase his trade value or even repair his relationship with the Kings. The latter approach would minimize the risk of an injury that could further diminish his value and might free up minutes for Harry Giles III, who played well in a 120-115 loss to the Nuggets on Sunday in his first game since Nov. 27.
Kings forward Trevor Ariza, who sits next to Dedmon in the team’s locker room, said Dedmon has not made his feelings known to teammates, but he didn’t seem surprised by the news.
“I think every player in here understands competitiveness and I think every player in here would like more out of their situation, and it’s understandable,” Ariza said. “It’s also a part of the business. Players get traded. Players ask for trades. As long as you continue to be professional and continue to do the things you need to do, it is what it is.”
Ariza said he isn’t concerned about Dedmon becoming a distraction to the team.
“Not at all,” Ariza said. “He’s been extremely professional through not playing. He just signed here as a free agent and they signed him to a pretty good deal, and he’s been at the end of the bench, cheering. He’s been focused. He’s been teaching. He’s been helping, so I think he’s been extremely professional.”
Fox agreed with that assessment.
“Obviously, as a player in this league, you want to play, but he’s been great,” Fox said. “He still brings energy. He’s still a professional. He comes to practice and does what he needs to do. He gets along with everybody and he’s been great. Obviously everybody wants to play, but he hasn’t been a problem for us at all, not even a little.”
Kings upcoming schedule
Dec. 31 vs. Los Angeles Clippers, 2 p.m.
Jan. 2 vs. Memphis, 7 p.m.
Jan. 4 vs. New Orleans, 7 p.m.
Jan. 6 vs. Golden State, 7 p.m.
Jan. 7 at Phoenix, 6 p.m.
This story was originally published December 30, 2019 at 4:00 AM.
