Atlanta Hawks: Dewayne Dedmon Should be Re-Signed if Price is Right

A quick look at the statistical profile of the most important free agent on the Atlanta Hawks.

After an extremely active pre-draft process, the Atlanta Hawks find themselves with only a bit over $12 million in cap space for the rest of the offseason per Spotrac. With much of the team already accounted for with rookies or young players as well as deals that will come off the books next season, there are a few notable free agents the team could be looking at.

One of the most important free agents the team should prioritize is someone who played the last two seasons with the Atlanta Hawks to sterling success: Dewayne Dedmon.

Dedmon was one of the best players on both sides of the ball for the Hawks last season, and his +4.5 efficiency differential per Cleaning the Glass was third on the team and in the 77th percentile among bigs. Dedmon trailed only John Collins and Kevin Huerter in the category.

DD was a clear boon on both sides of the ball as the team’s best option at center, and his 1.0 Player Impact Plus/Minus courtesy of BBall Index was behind only Collins on the team last season. Much of that statistic stemmed from Dedmon’s excellent effort on the defensive end, leading to a 1.2 Defensive PIPM.

Dedmon finished the season with a new career-high with 71 total blocks, and he trailed only Alex Len’s 3.9 percent block rate for the Hawks’ lead with his own 3.8 percent block rate per Basketball Reference.

Though lanky, Dedmon is able to slide his feet well and showcased impressive anticipation on defense, while also serving as a terrific roll man and – more importantly – a premier pick-and-pop operator at the center position.

In a league where all teams are looking for reliable three-point shooters at the five, Dedmon is coming off two straight seasons of shooting over 35 percent from downtown, and the 2018-19 season proved to be his best yet: Dedmon shot 38.2 percent from deep on a 41.3 percent three-point attempt rate per Basketball Reference – both of which represented career-highs.

Not much news has been leaking out about Dedmon’s situation in free agency, but in order to continue to build upon the team’s chemistry last year, Dedmon should be a top priority for the Atlanta Hawks going into free agency. If he can be had for a decent price that doesn’t break the bank, expect DD to return for another couple of seasons with the Hawks.