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Less than 24 hours ago, word broke that the Atlanta Hawks were reportedly interested in free agent center Dewayne Dedmon. Now, that interest appears to have progressed into a two-year contract agreement, according to Shams Charania of The Vertical.
Spurs free agent Dewayne Dedmon has agreed to a deal with the Atlanta Hawks, league sources tell The Vertical.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 12, 2017
Moments later, that report was confirmed by multiple sources and Sam Amick of USA Today brings word of the specifics of a two-year deal for $14 million with a second-year player option.
Can confirm @ShamsCharania report that Hawks have agreed to deal with Dewayne Dedmon.
— Chris Vivlamore (@CVivlamoreAJC) July 12, 2017
DeWayne Dedmon two years, $14 million to Atlanta, I'm told. Player option 2nd season.
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) July 12, 2017
The soon-to-be 28-year-old center enjoyed a nice season for the San Antonio Spurs in 2016-2017 season and provides the Hawks with another option at the center position. Dedmon is a solid rim protector on the defensive end that serves as a “rim runner” offensively and, while he is certainly a role player, the former USC standout fills a role that the Hawks don’t currently have in any veteran player.
With Mike Muscala and Miles Plumlee also under contract, this could round out Atlanta’s center rotation for the start of the season and it is a reasonable salary investment. The jury is out as to whether Dedmon or the newly re-signed Muscala will open the season as the team’s starter but, regardless, both will play prominent roles.
On Dedmon’s side, he has the opportunity to work in a system in which he should garner consistent playing time and, if he excels, he will be able to hit free agency again in 2018.
Stay tuned.