Kings center Dewayne Dedmon reportedly wants a trade out of Sacramento according to Shams Charania of The Athletic. Dedmon signed a three-year deal with the Kings in free agency this past summer. Charania notes that multiple teams have already made offers for the seven-year veteran and a trade is expected to be completed by the February deadline. Dedmon was a popular name at least year’s deadline as well, as are most centers who can space the floor.
A career backup center, Dedmon is having a down year compared to last season in Atlanta. He is averaging 4.8 points and 3.8 rebounds per game, steep drops from even his career averages. Perhaps the deepest falling is in the shooting department. This year, Dedmon is shooting 41.9% from the field and 22.9% from 3-point territory. In 2018-19 with Atlanta, Dedmon shot 49.2% from the field and 38.2% from deep. The lack of shooting has made him unplayable, but the big man has been unhappy in Northern California too.
New Sacramento head coach Luke Walton has reportedly soured on Dedmon as well according to Charania, resulting in multiple DNPs for a coach’s decision. In just a few months, the relationship is believed to be unsalvagable, a disappointing turn of events for a Kings team that was supposed to be young and deep for a potential playoff run. Instead, they have succumbed to several injuries and find themselves fighting to stay in the hunt.
