The Brooklyn Nets made a huge splash trading for James Harden, though their roster is now very thin so more moves are assuredly coming soon.
The Brooklyn Nets made a huge splash trading for James Harden, but their roster is now very thin so more moves are assuredly coming soon.
After losing Jarrett Allen, Brooklyn especially needs more depth in their frontcourt. The Nets have three available roster spots, per ESPN’s Bobby Marks, and still have their mid-level exception available to sign a free agent for up to $5.7 million. They can also sign any player for the league veteran minimum.
The front office may leave an empty roster spot for the buyout market later this season since, as legitimate title contenders, Brooklyn is now one of the more attractive destinations. Our own Yossi Gozlan predicts that they will use their $5.7 million designated player to trade for frontcourt depth.
Otherwise, in the immediate future, fans can expect one of the players we have listed below to sign with the Nets as they aim to restructure their roster on the fly.
On this episode of The HoopsHype Podcast, Alex Kennedy is joined by Ben Golliver of the Washington Post. They break down every deal from the 2020 NBA trade deadline, the biggest winners and losers, possible buyout candidates and more. Time-stamps are below!
1:35: Alex and Ben discuss their biggest winners of the deadline.
5:12: Alex and Ben discuss their biggest losers of the deadline.
7:55: Did the Golden State Warriors make the right move trading D’Angelo Russell to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Andrew Wiggins and a top-three protected 2021 first-round pick? Alex and Ben debate whether Golden State should’ve waited to see if a better offer emerged over the offseason, what to expect from Minnesota’s new-look team and more.
13:50: Breaking down the three-team deal that sends Marcus Morris to the Los Angeles Clippers. How much better does Morris make them? And what does this deal mean for the New York Knicks and Washington Wizards?
16:05: Alex and Ben discuss Darren Collison’s options if he decides to make an NBA comeback. If you were Collison, would you sign with the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers or another team (such as the Denver Nuggets or Philadelphia 76ers, who have shown interest in him)?
20:15: The Cleveland Cavaliers added Andre Drummond and they didn’t have to give up very much to the Detroit Pistons. Alex and Ben discuss the trade, why they like the move for Cleveland and what Detroit was thinking. They also talk about what this trade says about the evolution of the NBA.
25:10: Alex and Ben discuss the four-team, 12-player trade between the Atlanta Hawks, Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets. They break down Atlanta’s acquisition of Clint Capela, Houston’s addition of Robert Covington and the Rockets’ decision to go super small.
32:45: The Miami Heat acquired Andre Iguodala in a three-team deal with the Memphis Grizzlies and Minnesota Timberwolves, parting ways with Justise Winslow, Dion Waiters and James Johnson. The Heat also added Jae Crowder and Solomon Hill from the deal. Alex and Ben discuss Iguodala’s fit in Miami and the two-year, $30 million extension he signed with the Heat, as well as Memphis’ return for the 36-year-old.
37:25: Alex and Ben rattle off the remainder of minor deals that went down before the deadline and discuss their significance.
39:25: After the trade deadline, focus shifts to the buyout market. Alex and Ben talk about a number of veterans who could potentially be bought out and what kind of impact they could make on a contending team.
If you’re interested in advertising on The HoopsHype Podcast, email hoopshype@hoopshype.com for more information.
The Sacramento Kings have traded for former No. 2 overall pick Jabari Parker, sending disgruntled Dewayne Dedmon back to the Atlanta Hawks.
The Sacramento Kings have traded for former No. 2 overall pick Jabari Parker, sending disgruntled Dewayne Dedmon back to the Atlanta Hawks.
Dedmon played for Atlanta from 2017 until last season and had started in 10 of the 34 games he played for Sacramento this year, including all six of his most recent appearances. The Kings also received Alex Len (who has missed the last six games with a right hip strain) to replace the minutes Dedmon was playing.
Len is a seven-footer who started 31 games for Atlanta last season. However, much like their other newly-added frontcourt player Anthony Tolliver, the big is currently on an expiring contract and likely does not factor into their long-term plans. But when looking at their roster even with that in mind, the Kings have a surplus of players in the frontcourt, which is bad news for 21-year-old center Harry Giles.
This problem is temporarily softened by the current absences of Richaun Holmes and Marvin Bagley III, both of whom are out due to injury. Holmes has missed the past 13 games with a strained right shoulder. Bagley, meanwhile, will not be evaluated for another two weeks due to his mid-foot sprain.
Holmes, however, is expected to return to action on Friday and will be slotted back into the starting lineup. Once both he and Bagley return, Sacramento is going to have tough decisions on who will get playing time.
Imo, Jabari trade is good. He's only 24 y-o. He knows how to play. My concern is that his only correct offensive position is FIVE. He's a career 32% 3-pt shooter. 28% this season. Alex Len's only position is FIVE. So, add them to Holmes, Bagley, & Harry.
Parker (6-foot-9) is expected to play in the second unit as a scoring option off the bench. He has spent just two percent of his career minutes at the five, so it would be unlikely this happens often. However, he played the position for a career-high 11 percent of his time on the court while on the Hawks this year. When his three-point shot isn’t connecting, the five may actually be his most natural position due to floor spacing issues.
Nemanja Bjelica, who has spent six percent of his NBA minutes at center, is currently spending 14 percent of his time at center. It is worth noting that, according to Cleaning the Glass, the Kings have outscored opponents by 14.2 points per 100 possessions during those minutes. Their offensive rating when he has played center (123.7) is much higher than when Bjelica has been their power forward (108.2) in 2019-20.
But as noted by Yahoo’s Keith Smith, it is possible that the trade to land Parker could make Bjelica more expendable in return for an asset than he was before the trade deadline buzzer hits at 3:00 pm EST on Wednesday.
If they do end up holding on to Bjelica, he will obviously receive plenty of playing time. So, too, will both Bagley and Holmes. They will have to balance that with minutes they are also giving to Parker, Len, Tolliver and Harrison Barnes – who has started every game he has played since January 14, 2016. That leaves seven players who are going to want minutes in the frontcourt before even counting Giles.
I'm sorry to keep harping on this, but we really need to remember how colossally stupid it was to decline Harry Giles' option. He's a really solid role player who would have been cost-controlled at $3.9 million next season.
This situation does not bode well for Giles, who surprisingly did not receive a qualifying offer from the Kings during the offseason. This means that the young center will become an unrestricted free agent this summer, allowing him to fully test the market.
But the timing of all this is unfortunate considering Giles has finally seemed to turn over a new leaf with his recent play. More time on the court would’ve given him more opportunity to show what he is capable of doing when he is healthy, which is something the basketball world has not seen much since he was the top-rated recruit in the nation coming out of high school in 2016.
During his recent game against the Los Angeles Lakers on February 1, for example, the big man was given just the fourth start of his professional career. Giles put up a season-high 16 points and connected on 7-of-8 field-goal attempts. He also grabbed 8 rebounds in just 16 minutes of action.
Yet his best skill is his passing, which is incredibly impressive for someone his size. Giles has an assist percentage (17.2 percent) ranks 92nd percentile among big men, per Cleaning the Glass.
Harry Giles high post is the most fluid offensive system that the Sacramento Kings have. His passing ability gives them so many options.
Since they have handed the keys of their offense to De’Aaron Fox, they’ve also been a team that likes to play fast. Last season, their pace (103.9) ranked third-best in the NBA. But this year, that mark has fallen considerably (98.6) and they rank No. 25 in the league, second-worst in the Western Conference.
Quite a bit of that problem in that regard is their personnel in the frontcourt. Their pace when Dedmon (99.7) and Holmes (98.2) have been on the court has been significantly slower than the ideal version of what the Kings should look like. Their pace with Giles (102.4) is far closer to what Sacramento head coach Luke Walton, who ran a fast-tempo offense with the Lakers, wants to see from his offense.
What is most perplexing is that Giles actually fits this style of play better than any other big on their roster does. The Kings have played at an incredibly fast pace (107.4) when Fox and Giles have been on the court at the same time. Among Sacramento’s various two-man lineups that have been on the floor for at least 90 minutes so far this season, that combination has by far been their fastest.
Giles has averaged 19.4 points and 10.4 rebounds per 36 minutes when playing alongside Fox. That is highlighted by this absurdly awesome alley-oop off a pass from the point guard against the Lakers, embedded above.
According to league insider Zach Lowe, it is possible that the Kings get some kind of asset back for Giles before the deadline passes (via ESPN):
“Keep an eye on Harry Giles III. Sacramento declined his third-year option for next season – a bizarre decision, even given Giles’ spotty health record – and a few teams have poked around, sources say.”
For the sake of his development, one would hope that such a suitor would emerge so that Giles can finally show what he is capable of on an NBA team.
If nothing else, his passing skills alone can make him a valuable option in the frontcourt as a role player in a rotation. Giles is just 21 years old and though his professional career did not get off to an ideal start, there should be plenty of interest from front offices either now or when he becomes a free agent.
Meanwhile, after spending three seasons waiting for him to become a viable option, the Kings may lose Giles right before he is ready to take that leap.
HoopsHype ranks the five players who have popped up the most in trade rumors over the past week, including Warriors guard D’Angelo Russell.
So far this season, we’ve seen five trades go down, with the most impactful being the Utah Jazz acquiring Jordan Clarkson from the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Portland Trail Blazers landing Trevor Ariza, who has acclimated wonderfully to his new team. Some of the other moves that have gone down include the Dallas Mavericks trading for Willie Cauley-Stein and the Atlanta Hawks bringing Jeff Teague back to play a reserve role behind Trae Young, though neither player has done much for their new club quite yet.
Now, as we enter the home stretch before the Feb. 6 trade deadline, there’s a chance we see the action pick up at least a bit.
Below, HoopsHype ranks the five players who have popped up the most in rumors on the site’s Trade page over the past week.
Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
5. D’ANGELO RUSSELL
Scuttle has picked up recently on D’Angelo Russell’s trade prospects, but that doesn’t mean a move is imminent. Rather, we know where it’s possible he could end up over the summer, once the Golden State Warriors have Steph Curry and Klay Thompson back at full health and many believe they’ll look to move their third All-Star guard.
According to reports, the Minnesota Timberwolves continue to be the likeliest landing spot for Russell, due to the fact that they have a massive need at ball-handler and know that Russell is close with their best player, Karl-Anthony Towns.
“Part of the motivation for Minnesota’s Russell chase, quite clearly, is his relationship with Towns. They are close friends. Towns was part of the contingent that pitched Russell hard this summer. The Wolves know that acquiring Russell not only gets Towns his preferred pick-and-roll partner but also buys them time and faith. The Warriors are aware of this dynamic. It automatically bumps up Russell’s market value in conversations with the Wolves. Minnesota has dangled Andrew Wiggins, who is on a similar contract as Russell and fills a greater positional need.”
Andrew Wiggins for Russell might not be the perfect like-for-like swap talent-wise, but it could a good starting point for the two teams. We’ll see where this goes over the offseason.
Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
4. MICHAEL KIDD-GILCHRIST
The Charlotte Hornets sit at 16-33 as we approach the trade deadline, five games out of the East’s final playoff spot with little chance of actually making that push to get over the hump. So it’s only natural they’re considered prime candidates to ship out some veterans over the next week.
One such player is Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, who is an able perimeter defender and on the final year of his contract, two factors that could make him appealing to contenders.
And apparently, one team has taken notice, as it was reported this week that Dallas has kicked the tires on a potential deal for Kidd-Gilchrist:
Reporting with @rick_bonnell, Mavericks are mulling whether to add a 3/4 defender. I'm told they have "kicked tires" on Charlotte's Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Toronto's Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, but purely exploratory at this point. Trade deadline is one week from today.
The 26-year-old defensive specialist might be a savvy pickup for Dallas, as his point-stopping prowess would mesh nicely with fellow wing Dorian Finney-Smith, and his low-usage style of play wouldn’t take away scoring looks from the team’s stars, Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis.
Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
3. DEWAYNE DEDMON
Sacramento Kings big man Dewayne Dedmon has already seen himself removed from his team’s rotation, requested a trade, fined, gotten added back into the rotation and reconciled with Sacramento, all within the past month.
Pretty busy stretch for a player averaging just north of six points per game for his career, but such is the way things work in the modern NBA.
Dedmon’s rim-protecting, floor-spacing chops would fit nicely with what Atlanta needs at the 5-spot, and his veteran leadership could help promising power forward John Collins.
In particular, there has been a lot of steam that the Los Angeles Clippers are hoping the Knicks change their mind on keeping Morris through the trade deadline so they can swoop in and add to their frontcourt.
Morris is having a fantastic campaign for New York, arguably his best since reaching the NBA, averaging over 19 points per game and knocking down a career-best 43.8 percent of his outside chances. That, plus his defensive versatility and overall toughness, would make him a fantastic addition to any contender.
But it looks like both Morris and the Knicks are set on sticking it out and agreeing to a long-term contract this summer. We’ll see if that changes.
And as long as the Detroit Pistons don’t lower their expectations on a potential return – they want expiring money and an asset, either in the form of a first-round draft pick or a high-upside, young player – that’s not likely to change, because Drummond, for as productive as he is, doesn’t make much sense as a trade target right now. The All-Star center is on the final year of his deal and wants to get paid on his next contract, so whoever trades for him is committing to not just half a season of Drummond, but at least four or five years of him, at max or near-max money.
Why lose assets on a trade for the double-double machine when you’re also going to lose a ton of flexibility after acquiring him? Especially when they can just sign him this offseason when he hits unrestricted free agency? It just wouldn’t be smart roster-building to trade for Drummond right now – at least not at that price.
Just in case Detroit does lower their asking price, the team that has been connected with him most in recent reports are the New York Knicks, who are desperate for All-Star-level production wherever they can get it.
You can follow Frank Urbina on Twitter: @FrankUrbina_.
HoopsHype ranks the five players who have popped up the most in trade rumors over the past week, including Kevin Love and Andre Drummond.
There hasn’t been a shortage of NBA trade rumors over the past week, and as we get closer to February, the scuttle will only continue to become more frequent, a trend we’re already starting to see now, in early January.
Below, HoopsHype ranks the five players who have popped up the most in rumors on the site’s Trade page over the past week.
Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
5. DEWAYNE DEDMON, SACRAMENTO
Following his trade request, Sacramento Kings big man Dewayne Dedmon was fined $50,000 by the NBA for making “public statements detrimental to the NBA and its teams.”
Surprisingly enough, however, Dedmon returned to the Kings’ rotation on Jan. 7, likely due to the plethora of injuries to Sacramento’s frontcourt rotation, and acquitted himself nicely, dropping 12 points, 10 rebounds and one three-pointer while posting a plus-33 plus/minus.
That type of audition could make Dedmon more appealing to the contending teams searching for a big man who can space the floor and protect the paint, but his price tag (he’s on Year-1 of a three-year, $40 million contract with a partial guarantee on the final season) could scare some of the interested parties away.
For what it’s worth, the Kings are reportedly willing to hear offers on the big man, but won’t take back bad salary that could hurt their future cap flexibility, per NBC Sports’James Ham.
However, the Knicks reportedly don’t have plans to move Morris at the moment, per Yahoo Sports, though we all know how quickly things could change if New York receives the right offer.
And the right offer could very well come along soon (as in one containing a first-round pick), especially when you factor in Morris’ high level of play this season and the fact that he’s on an expiring contract. Those two factors, plus New York not being in contention for a playoff spot this year, make Morris a prime trade candidate.
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
3. KYLE KUZMA, LA LAKERS
The closer we get to the 2020 NBA trade deadline, the more it looks like Kyle Kuzmawill be one of the players traded. He’s struggled through injury and acclimation with his new role so far this year, and he’s averaging 12 points on a career-low 42.5 percent shooting for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Originally, most of the reports coming out of L.A. stated that the Lakers were willing to hear offers for their third-year forward, but weren’t going out of their way to trade him.
However, the most recent report on Kuzma’s trade candidacy, courtesy of the Los Angeles Times, stated that it was actually Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka who called the Kings in order to gauge their interest in the Utah product, and not the other way around as many originally believed. That makes a whole lot more sense, because Kuzma doesn’t even fit on Sacramento’s roster all that well, not with all of the young frontcourt depth they already have.
This situation is one to monitor, but Kuzma’s poor fit on the new-look Lakers could, and probably will, lead to his departure prior to next month’s deadline. His spot on the roster would be better used on an additional bench playmaker for Los Angeles.
David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
2. KEVIN LOVE, CLEVELAND
The situation in Ohio between Kevin Love and the Cleveland Cavaliers has had moments of pure ugliness, including last weekend when Love blatantly showed up his teammates and head coach in the middle of a game. And that came on the heels of a report that stated Love had gotten into it with his general manager Koby Altman.
The five-time All-Star went on to apologize publicly for his actions and ended up unpunished by his team, but it’s clear at this point this pairing needs a split, and that the Cavs need to find a trade partner to take the floor-spacing power forward.
Even so, Love desperately wants out of Cleveland, that much is obvious without even having to read the latest reports, so the Cavaliers might have to bite the bullet and attach assets in order to get rid of him, lest they allow him to have more flare-ups of bad attitude that could prove harmful in their young, rebuilding locker room.
Makes sense, too, considering the Pistons are struggling mightily due to injury on the year and have an expensive roster that could use a complete reset. What’s more, because Drummond is set to hit free agency this summer (all but certain, as he has a player option on his deal for next year), Detroit would be wise to move him and land a few assets that could help them with the rebuild to come.
Veteran NBA reporter Marc Stein recently revealed that a source of his believes Drummond will be moved within the next month:
As for Pistons center Andre Drummond … one source briefed on Detroit's attempts to trade Drummond expressed confidence this week a deal to move Drummond will materialize before the Feb. 6 trade deadline
And a local reporter in Detroit thinks the Atlanta Hawks, Toronto Raptors, Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics could be interested in the two-time All-Star center.
On the year, Drummond is averaging 17.5 points, a league-leading 16.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.9 blocks per game – monster averages that should pique the interest of motivated teams around the Association.
You can follow Frank Urbina on Twitter: @FrankUrbina_.
HoopsHype ranks the five players who have popped up the most in trade rumors over the past week, including Karl-Anthony Towns.
We haven’t seen another trade since the Cleveland Cavaliers sent Jordan Clarkson to the Utah Jazz, but that doesn’t mean there’s been a shortage of scuttle over the past week. What’s more, as we get closer to February, trade rumors will only start to become more frequent, a trend we’re already starting to see now, in early January.
Below, HoopsHype ranks the five players who have popped up the most in rumors on the site’s Trade page over the past week.
Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
5. JRUE HOLIDAY
Despite scuttle over previous weeks about the likelihood of a Jrue Holiday trade, the smoke on that end has started to fade a bit, and it looks like the New Orleans Pelicans would prefer to keep their underrated floor general.
“Holiday wants to win and cares most about being in a winning situation, league sources tell The Athletic. He and Griffin had agreed to push into a new Pelicans future over the summer and contend for a playoff berth, but that has not happened. When Griffin took over in New Orleans, Holiday wanted to stay and saw the possibility of being part winner right where he is. So far, the sides have not had any dialogue about his future.”
With New Orleans sitting at 11-23 and Holiday under contract for three more seasons, discontentment on Holiday’s end could begin to grow unless the team experiences a major turnaround.
If that were to happen, Charania listed the Denver Nuggets and Miami Heat as two teams who could be interested in pursuing the two-way guard.
Holiday is averaging 19.9 points and 6.5 assists this season.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski said as much after Cleveland dealt Clarkson, reporting that the Cavs, “plan to start uprooting veterans from their roster to gather more draft picks and young assets.” The Cleveland Plain Dealer’s Chris Fedorreported that contenders have expressed interest in Thompson, but that the Cavaliers are contemplating whether to trade their best big man or sign him to a long-term contract.
That sounds like it could be a good bit of posturing by Cleveland, however, in hopes of driving up the asking price for Thompson, who is legitimately playing some of the best basketball of his career right now.
This season, the Canadian center is averaging 12.8 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. He’d make a great addition to a top-notch playoff team lacking in toughness on the inside.
Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports
3. DENNIS SMITH JR.
There’s no question Dennis Smith Jr., a former Top-10 pick, has been a pretty big disappointment thus far in his career. And things haven’t improved upon his arrival to the Big Apple.
As a member of the New York Knicks, Smith is averaging 5.2 points and 2.7 assists per game, though he did miss some time due to the death of a loved one, which could have had an adverse effect on his form.
Despite his struggles this season, Smith still holds value as a trade target thanks to his age (22), upside and the fact that he’s under contract for two more seasons after this one, and at a team-friendly price. Maybe in more tenable situation, like one that doesn’t include a midseason coaching change, Smith might have a chance to flourish.
At least that’s the gamble some teams could be willing to make.
Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
2. KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS
There hasn’t been a full-out trade rumor regardingKarl-Anthony Towns yet, but the seeds of discontent began to appear last week when a report out of each coast came out, stating that two big-market teams were monitoring the star big man and his level of contentment with the Minnesota Timberwolves, who are struggling again this season.
First, came a report fromMarc Berman at the New York Post who stated that the New York Knicks are keeping their eye on Towns, in case he were to demand a trade. Then came the second report, courtesy of Ethan Strauss at The Athletic, who said that the Golden State Warriors are also eyeing Towns for the same reason, and that league execs at the G League showcase said Towns is unhappy in Minnesota.
A latter report had sources within both Towns’ and the Wolves’ camps downplaying concerns, but as the saying goes, where there’s smoke there’s fire. And as long as the Timberwolves continue to struggle despite having two max players on their roster, the team’s future will continue to be unsettled.
“‘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.’ 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.”
Dedmon hasn’t played in 11 of Sacramento’s last 13 games, and his lack of playing time overall this year has a lot to do with the emergence of Richaun Holmes and the development of Harry Giles. It makes sense why Dedmon, who is playing under 14 minutes per game this year, is unhappy in Sacramento, but at the same time, he chose to sign with a team that has a pretty deep frontcourt rotation, filled with promising up-and-comers.
Dedmon’s contract, which pays him over $13 million annually, could make him a bit tricky to move, but his skill-set, that of a floor-spacing, rim-protecting center who would be a decent backup on a contender, could make him appealing to elite teams.
You can follow Frank Urbina on Twitter: @FrankUrbina_.
With his relationship with Sacramento Kings head coach Luke Walton now beyond repair, is a deal to the Boston Celtics potentially in the making?
Sacramento Kings center Dewayne Dedmon wants out of his current situation, reports the Athletics’ NBA insider Shams Charania.
The seven-year veteran has seen his minutes nearly cut in half from what he received at his last stop with the Atlanta Hawks, and has logged some of the worst numbers of his career as a result.
Boston Celtics fans keen to upgrade the team’s frontcourt rotation are already daydreaming about the Californian big man’s fit and and availability, and given his recent past, it’s understandable why.
Dedmon recorded a career season in 2018-19 with the Hawks, logging 10.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.1 blocks over 25.1 minutes per game while shooting .382 from beyond the arc 3.4 times per contest.
Kings center Dewayne Dedmon wants out of Sacramento, per league sources. More context and info on @TheAthleticNBA’s Inside Pass: https://t.co/b31ujfqg8P
This season, the USC product is putting up a mere 4.8 points, 3.8 boards and .5 blocks per tilt over just 13.6 minutes a game, with the reduced role behind much of the slump.
This drop in playing time is a result of a mutual falling-out between Dedmon and Kings head coach Luke Walton, with each side believing the situation has progressed to the point of being irreparable, Charania relates.
In fact, the 30-year-old center has received DNP-CDs eight of his last ten games, a strong signal the big man’s time in Sacramento is drawing to a close.
A solid rim protector able to rebound and stretch the floor is certain to get followers of most NBA teams interested, but for the Celtics, the Lancaster native’s paycheck presents a significant obstacle.
Earning $13.3 million this season, Dedmon’s contract makes deals that would make sense for Boston functionally impossible, as salary matching would require dealing one of Boston’s four best players.
This conundrum has been at the center of a number of proposed trade ideas in recent weeks, with some analysts even hearing the Celtics might instead move to trade for a wing if they make a move at all.
It's a shame the Celtics don't have a realistic way to match that salary, I like Dedmon a lot https://t.co/nUx2HQ2Lzc
While it’s true that Boston is in need of a big who can help contain the Giannis Antetokounmpos and Joel Embiids of the NBA, they are far from alone in that regard.
It’s also worth noting that even with Dedmon’s ability to draw out non-shooting bigs on the attack, it’s mainly the other side of the ball the Celtics need help with from a five.
The unhappy big man will likely find a home in a hurry if things are indeed beyond repair with his current team, but the odds that it’s with the Celtics are very low indeed, barring a surprise buyout if no other franchises come courting.
The good news for him is, per Charania, “multiple teams are making offers to the franchise in anticipation of a deal prior to the February trade deadline.”
It’s kind of shocking after he signed a three-year, $41 million contract that it’s come to this. Dedmon hit free agency this past summer and was a sneaky-good value — he could block a shot a game and nail from distance (he hit 38.2 percent from three last season for the Atlanta Hawks) after developing a three-point shot. He’s had some troubles with that shot this year, which might explain why he’s barely played. It doesn’t help that Richaun Holmes is having a breakout year of his own.
But Dedmon might just need a change of scenery. Who doesn’t want a floor-spacing big man who can also clog the middle?
The problem is that contract. If a contender who needs depth in the middle wants to take him on, it’ll be costly. That’s why you’re seeing hypothetical trade proposals like these:
Dewayne Dedmon wants out?? What y’all think of this trade laker fans??? 👀👀👀👀👀 pic.twitter.com/OVvWAMZXvN
Maybe this works in reality maybe it doesnt. Dedmon wants out. Portland needs front court depth. Sacramento gets an expiring contract and Portland reduces payroll slightly this season. pic.twitter.com/upB6l0WZMH
Honestly, I don’t believe he’s going to get that kind of return for the Kings. I bet opposing teams see it as a buy-low opportunity if they can find a way to match salaries.
But I’m standing by what I said: he could be a really useful part of a playoff rotation if he ends up on a contender.
