Dewayne Dedmon might be an option for the OKC Thunder if the price is right.
If you’re one to believe rumors (understandable if not), then I have some exciting news for you! According to Sean Deveney at Sporting News, Sam Presti and the OKC Thunder have expressed interest in Atlanta Hawks center Dewayne Dedmon.
Assuming this is legitimate, Thunder fans should be excited about this. Dedmon’s game has improved immensely the past two years. He’s averaging a career-high 10 points per game to go along with 7.7 rebounds this season. The seven-footer even added a three-point shot over the summer – this comes after significantly improving his overall feel on the offensive end in San Antonio the year before. His true value, however, centers around his defensive game.
Dedmon is a stout defensive rebounder that’s also capable of guarding bigs who can stretch the floor. This is especially important for second-units because most teams no longer employ old-school backup centers. The 28-year old would fit in perfectly with the Thunder’s athletic bench while also providing more spacing for Raymond Felton to work with.
There’s two issues with this: contract and value. According to Deveney the Hawks want a late first round pick, something OKC doesn’t have. Deveney also notes that Dedmon is likely to decline his player option in search of a bigger contract – it’s likely he’d be a half-season rental. The good news is the latter might play into the Thunder’s favor.
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Nobody is willing to give up a first-round pick for Dedmon knowing he’s likely to walk. If the asking price does in fact drop, Presti has two second round picks at his disposal.
We’ll keep you updated on the latest Thunder rumors as the Trade Deadline looms. Make sure to bookmark Thunderous Intentions so you don’t miss a story.