11 Players the Kings never should have gambled on
By Tyler Watts
6. Dewayne Dedmon
Dedmon struggled to find his footing in the NBA after going undrafted in 2013. He played for four different teams as a reserve big man before finally breaking out with the Hawks in 2017. He spent two seasons as the primary starting center in Atlanta where he averaged 10.4 points, 7.7 rebounds, 0.9 steals, and 1.0 block in 25.0 minutes per game.
The Kings signed him to a three-year $40 million contract in the 2019 offseason. They were looking for a starting center after Willie Cauley-Stein’s departure and viewed Dedmon as the ideal fit, but things never worked out.
They wanted a stretch five next to Marvin Bagley, but Dedmon’s shooting and production dropped off. He started just ten games before Richaun Holmes took over. Dedmon played 34 contests with Sacramento before being traded back to Atlanta. The seven-footer wanted out as the contract proved to be a disaster for both sides.
Dewayne Dedmon never matched his two breakout seasons in Atlanta. He has struggled to stay healthy and has been primarily a reserve big man since his stint in Sacramento. Things never worked with the Kings, and it was another mistake by the franchise. Signing a 30-year-old big man with just two seasons of track record is a gamble that could bust, especially if the player declines slightly.