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Atlanta Hawks: 5 goals for Dwayne Dedmon in 2017-18

By Brendan Galella

Atlanta Hawks center Dewayne Dedmon signed a two-year, $14 million deal this summer. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
Atlanta Hawks center Dewayne Dedmon signed a two-year, $14 million deal this summer. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Center Dewayne Dedmon totaled 10 or more rebounds 14 times during his lone season in San Antonio. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photos by Mark Sobhani/NBAE via Getty Images)
Center Dewayne Dedmon totaled 10 or more rebounds 14 times during his lone season in San Antonio. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photos by Mark Sobhani/NBAE via Getty Images) /

1. Lead the Atlanta Hawks in rebounding

With the removal of both Paul Millsap and Dwight Howard from the roster, a bulk of the rebounding is missing. The duo of Millsap and Howard totaled 1,473 rebounds, while the rest of the roster combined for 2,162 rebounds.

Atlanta is likely to start rookie John Collins at power forward, and he proved to be a rebounding threat during his time at the Las Vegas Summer League tournament, pulling down 9.2 rebounds a game.

Only relying on a rookie to be the primary rebounder for a team is a tall order. Since 1990, only 12 rookies have averaged over 10 rebounds per game.

Atlanta ranked ninth in rebounding last season and to maintain its status as one of the best rebounding teams in the league, Dedmon will have to take command of the boards.

The seven-foot center played 20 or more minutes 26 times last season, resulting in an average of 9.3 rebounds per game — a much-needed figure for one of the youngest teams in the NBA.

Next: Atlanta Hawks - Complete 2017 offseason grades

For his career, Dedmon is averaging 12.6 rebounds per game per 36 minutes, and for the first time in his career, he will have a chance to log consistent minutes and prove he is capable of being a truly productive rebounder.

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