11:40am: The NBA will investigate Dedmon’s comments to determine whether he’ll be fined, according to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports. As noted below, the league’s CBA prohibits players from publicly requesting a trade.
8:55am: Shams Charania of The Athletic reported on Friday that Kings center Dewayne Dedmon, who has fallen out of the team’s rotation after signing a three-year, $41MM contract in the summer, wants to be dealt. Speaking on Sunday to Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee, Dedmon made no effort to deny Charania’s report or downplay his desire to be moved.
“I would like to be traded,” Dedmon confirmed. “I haven’t been playing, so I would like to go somewhere where my talents are appreciated.”
Dedmon, 30, was coming off two solid seasons in Atlanta when he reached unrestricted free agency this past offseason. In 2018/19, he averaged a career-best 10.8 PPG to go along with 7.5 RPG, 1.1 SPG, 1.1 BPG, and a .382 3PT%. That performance made him a popular target on the open market and resulted in a lucrative contract offer from Sacramento.
However, Dedmon was outplayed by bigs like Richaun Holmes and Nemanja Bjelica in the early going this season. With Marvin Bagley III and Harrison Barnes also in the frontcourt mix, head coach Luke Walton hasn’t found minutes for the former Hawk as of late — Dedmon, who is making just 41.9% of his shots from the field this season, has only played seven total minutes since December 6, and is frustrated that he hasn’t gotten more of a chance to reverse his slow start.
“I’m not the only person struggling with my shot, so if that’s a factor then it’s kind of crazy,” Dedmon told Anderson. “If you’re not allowed to shoot through your slumps, I don’t know how you’re supposed to make shots.”
Dedmon is earning $13MM+ this season and has another fully guaranteed year left on his deal, so the Kings may still want to get him back into the rotation at some point to rebuild his value and salvage their investment. However, the veteran big man sounds skeptical that things will turn around for him in Sacramento.
“I definitely appreciate (the Kings’ investment), 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.”
According to Anderson, the Kings are listening to offers for Dedmon and there may be a market for his services, but the front office will insist that any deal must make sense for the team’s future. Sam Quinn of CBS Sports recently speculated that teams like the Clippers, Celtics, Timberwolves, Trail Blazers, and Hawks could be fits for Dedmon. Anderson adds the Mavericks and Magic to that list of hypothetical suitors.
The NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement prohibits players from making public trade demands, so we’ll see if the league responds to Dedmon’s comments. Anthony Davis was fined $50K last winter when agent Rich Paul publicly requested a trade.
Better for him that it’s out and he can move on instead of ducking questions daily.
Because people are lining up to interview Dwayne Dedmon? Lol
He’s a good big, he wouldn’t be the first player who went to Sacramento and got deployed poorly.
Lots of teams would want Dedmon.
Is there any other story beside him and Buddy Hield in all of Sacramento?
Dedmon Who wants a trade?
“The NBA will investigate Dedmon’s comments to determine whether he’ll be fined.”
“I would like to be traded,” Dedmon confirmed.
Seems like it should be a short investigation. Although with the NBA it will still probably take a month.
Drummond and Galloways for Harrison Barnes and Dedmon
Or
Whiteside and Trent Jr and a second rounder for Trevor Ariza and Dedmon
I can tell you’re a kings fan
That Drummond trade tho lmao
How? Why?
This guy has the most meh track record imaginable. He should be grateful Vlade was willing to give him such a bad contract.
He was a highly rated center 88th in the league overall in vorp, 32nd among centers. That makes him an above average backup, and while he’s highly compensated, he was willing to go to Sacramento (most players aren’t).
He’s right to expect a chance to play his way out of a slump, especially considering he’s more of a defensive player than an offensive player.
His ceiling is a backup and thats just not going to cut it long term. Too volatile of a position to make an impact at the ridiculous price tag he got. Similar to Thaddeus Young who also is unhappy in his situation and got overpaid.
If you think guys like Dedmon and Young are “overpaid” you haven’t been paying attention. Dedmon is the 97th best paid player in the NBA. Young is 101. Now you obviously know how many players in the NBA are still on rookie contracts so those guys aren’t in this mix. Dedmon and Young are average players making average salaries.
Kelly Olynik for him. Salaries match. Make it happen Pat.