NBA Trade Rumors: Disgruntled Kings Center Gets Wish, Hopes To Soar With Hawks

The Atlanta Hawks have been scouring the free-agent market for a center and finally got one. With the trade deadline winding down, the Hawks have come to terms with the Sacramento Kings for Dewayne Dedmon. In return, the Hawks will be sending Alex Len and veteran Jabari Parker along with two future picks.

The Hawks-Kings trade was revealed by Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, citing sources. With Atlanta investing heavily in its future, a pair of picks (2020 and 2021) should align with their plans. But the focus will be on Dedmon who has hardly made an impact this 2019-20 season.

The 7-footer has played in34 games, averaging 5.4 points and 4.9 rebounds in 15.9 minutes of action per contest, as per Basketball-Reference.com. His numbers pale in comparison to his showing last season. During the 2018-29 season, Dedmon averaged 10.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game.

The 30-year-old center gets a chance to prove himself with the Hawks. Atlanta is not expected to advance to the postseason wars, meaning Dedmon is more of an investment moving forward. The Hawks are 14-28, just a game ahead of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Eastern Conference.

Things seem to be looking up for the Hawks who also acquired Clint Capella just recently via four-team trade. With two legit centers in the mix, it will be interesting who else Atlanta would lure to their fold.

For the Kings, the deal gives them added financial flexibility. Len is in the final year of his deal while Parker owns a player option this summer. Both are likely to be free agents in the offseason unless Sacramento sees something they like from both.

Also factoring in the deal is the case of Bogdan Bogdanovic. One of the players frequenting the NBA trade rumor mill, the Kings are expected to do everything to keep the Serbian swingman. Though he will be earning just $8.5 million this season, the 27-year-old is expected to be dangled a lucrative contract. Bogdanovic turned down a four-year contract extension worth $51.4 million but mentioned to the Sacramento Bee that he wanted to stay with the Kings back in October.