Trade deadline preview: Five realistic scenarios for the Kings to deal Dewayne Dedmon
The Sacramento Kings successfully made one trade over the weekend, but another could be on its way soon.
After shipping Trevor Ariza to the Portland Trail Blazers, it’s likely the Kings are looking to move disgruntled center Dewayne Dedmon.
It’s time to figure out which teams around the league could value Dedmon and what the Kings could expect to get in return for their slumping big man.
Spoiler alert: It’s not going to be much. A repeat of the modest haul acquired from Portland is likely to be a best-case scenario.
Realistically, the Kings should be looking to shed Dedmon’s salary for either an end of rotation player on an expiring contract, a second-round pick, or a combination of the two.
The ideal trade partner would have a need at the center position, a disposable player with a similar salary, and a financial outlook for next season that doesn’t place a premium on cap space. Here are the five destinations for Dewayne Dedmon that make the most sense.
5. Detroit Pistons
Detroit gets: Dewayne Dedmon
Andre Drummond has been a big name in trade rumors recently, and it seems possible that his time in Detroit is nearing an end. If the Pistons are looking for a more affordable replacement, Dedmon could fit nicely. Snell, on the other hand, is a strong shooter on the wing that could fill the newly opened hole at forward on the Kings roster.
Letting Snell go could work for Detroit as they have had several young players step up at small forward. If they believe that Luke Kennard and Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk can carry the load with Snell gone, then Dedmon could pair with Christian Wood to hold down the center position if Drummond leaves.
It’s important to note that Snell isn’t on a truly expiring deal, like most of the other trade targets discussed below. He will likely pick up his $12 million player option next season. But that should be no problem for the Kings, who are always in need of another 3-and-D small forward. This trade would not be about gathering minor assets, but rather bolstering a position of need.
4. Oklahoma City Thunder
Sacramento gets: Andre Roberson, 2021 second-rounder
Oklahoma City gets: Dewayne Dedmon
The Oklahoma City Thunder have very little flexibility in terms of cap space next summer. The massive salaries for Chris Paul and Steven Adams will stop the Thunder from signing any significant free agents. If they want to add talent, it may be wise to trade their expiring deals for rotation pieces under contract for next season.
Oklahoma City could add get a player that they normally wouldn’t have had access to in Dedmon. He would give the Thunder a stretch option at center and a potentially useful trade chip for next season. Steven Adams also appears to be available for trade, so the Thunder may need a new starting option at the five next season.
Andre Roberson has been plagued by injuries for years now, and would only be viewed as matching salary in this deal. He hasn’t played a game since January 2018 and could miss the rest of this season as well. For Sacramento, this trade would be about erasing Dedmon from the payroll and adding a future draft pick.
3. Washington Wizards
Sacramento gets: Ian Mahinmi, 2022 second-rounder
Washington gets: Dewayne Dedmon
The Washington Wizards seem to highly value shooting in their frontcourt. Injuries have kept Davis Bertans and Mo Wagner out of their rotation for parts of the season, and Dedmon could provide reinforcement. The Wizards have very little depth at center and the need for an upgrade is undeniable.
Like Oklahoma and Detroit, Washington projects to only have minimal cap space in the offseason. Dedmon might be a better option than most players available to them this summer. The acquisition of Dedmon would also make it easier to move Bertans, who has made rounds of his own in the rumor mill.
Ian Mahinmi has been nothing but a disappointment since signing a four-year contract worth $64 million in the summer of 2016. Washington would probably not think twice about letting him go. Sacramento Kings fans wouldn’t be too excited to see him join their team either, but again, this is about moving on from the tenuous situation with Dedmon as quickly as possible.
2. Los Angeles Clippers
Sacramento gets: Maurice Harkless
Los Angeles gets: Dewayne Dedmon, 2020 second-rounder, 2021 second-rounder
The Los Angeles Clippers have one of the best rosters in all of the NBA. Yet they still have a glaring hole at the starting center position. Montrezl Harrell is a contender for the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award, but is much more useful in their system when coming off the bench. Starting center Ivica Zubac is a weak point and rumor has it the Clippers are interested in an upgrade.
Dewayne Dedmon could be the exact type of player Los Angeles is looking for, and Maurice Harkless could be the same for the Sacramento Kings. Harkless fits the combo forward role that is in high demand across the league, but the Clippers are so deep they might not even miss him. Rodney McGruder and Terance Mann could step up in his place.
Harkless would immediately step into Ariza’s former role with Sacramento, while Dedmon would give Los Angeles a veteran stretch five to improve their weakest position. The Kings, who now have an absolute stockpile of second-round picks, would be smart to spend a few of them on a player with upside. If the Clippers believe that they can get Dedmon back his former self, this deal works.
1. Atlanta Hawks
Sacramento gets: Evan Turner, DeAndre’ Bembry, 2022 second-rounder, 2023 second-rounder
Atlanta gets: Dewayne Dedmon and Yogi Ferrell
Dewayne Dedmon was much better when he played for the Hawks, and the Hawks were much better when Dedmon played for them. A reunion would make perfect sense, and everyone involved could walk away happy. If what Dedmon wants is playing time, his old home of Atlanta is his best chance to get it.
The inclusion of Yogi Ferrell is not ideal, but would be necessary to make the salaries of this trade match. Ferrell has fallen out of the Kings rotation this year, so swapping him for Bembry has some slight upside. The 25-year-old wing has shown positive flashes and will be a restricted free agent next season.
Turner has been downright bad for a while, yet his size might be temporarily useful. This could also be the best return possible for the Sacramento Kings in the long run, as it is hard to see any other team giving up multiple picks for Dedmon. This deal has the potential to be win for both teams, so don’t be surprised if the Hawks and Kings discuss something along these lines soon.