Sacramento Kings: 5 reasons to be excited for 2019-20 NBA season
By Adam Taylor
4. A Legitimate Stretch-five
Dewayne Dedmon is a legitimate 7’0″ big man capable of stretching the floor, punishing defenses inside and out. Hr finished last season in the 83rd percentile of made corner threes with a 48.0 percent success rate and the 81st percentile of made threes in general at 38.2 percent from deep.
Replacing Willie Cauley-Stein, Dedmon improves the team stylistically and technically. Fox will benefit from having a center who can run pick-and-pop plays, and Bagley will see more time rolling to the rim on horn sets.
Dedmon has become a respected shooter from deep over the last two years, and he comes into the roster designed to maximize this aspect of his play. They did need a defensive upgrade at his position, however, and Dedmon fits the bill here too.
Grabbing 22 percent of available defensive rebounds last year and 39.3 percent of available rebounds following the offense missing a free-throw, Dedmon brings toughness on the glass. His hands are always active when guarding the ball handler or shooter, leading him to finish in the 91st percentile of steals last year at his position.
On a three year, $40 million deal, with the third year only partially guaranteed, the Kings have improved their frontcourt while retaining future flexibility. Dedmon’s arrival will increase multiple players output this year, most notably the trio of Fox, Hield and Bagley.