After quickly falling out of favor with Sacramento Kings head coach Luke Walton, Dewayne Dedmon is headed back to Atlanta in exchange for Alex Len and Jabari Parker.
Dewayne Dedmoncame to theSacramento Kingstouted as a solution to their void at the center spot. After a rough start to the season, however, he was quickly supplanted following the strong play ofRichaun Holmes.
Although initially taking his benching in stride, Dewayne Dedmonpublicly requested a tradein January after seeing action in just six games in the month of December.
Dedmon got his wish Wednesday night, returning to the team with which he spent the previous two seasons, the Atlanta Hawks, in exchange for two former lottery picks in centerAlex Lenand forwardJabari Parker.
The Kings also included asecond-round pick in 2020 and 2021as part of the deal.
Sacrameto is trading Dewayne Dedmon to Atlanta for Jabari Parker and Alex Len, sources tell@ZachLowe_NBAand me. Atlanta also gets two second round picks.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn)February 6, 2020
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Len, in his seventh year out of Maryland, has been sidelined since sustaining a strained right hip flexor in a January 24th loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, but will be re-evaluated soon in hopes of a return.
He has averaged 8.7 points and 5.8 rebounds per game this season, a slight dip after averaging a career-best 11.1 points per game last season.
Originally selected 5th overall in 2013 by the Phoenix Suns, Len has proven to be a serviceable backup and spot starter. Once healthy, Len figures to be the primary back up to Holmes, whohopes to make his returnFriday against the Miami Heat.
Parker, the 2nd overall pick in 2014, was averaging 15.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per game in his first season with the Hawks after splitting last season between his hometown Chicago Bulls and the Washington Wizards following four seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks.
As has been the unfortunate theme of Parker’s career, he is also currently sidelined with an injury. He suffered a right shoulder impingement and has been out since January 3rd, buthas made progress in rehab.
Parker showed loads of promise early in his career with Milwaukee before twice tearing the ACL in his left knee. It will be interesting to see where he fits into head coach Luke Walton’s rotation once he returns from injury.
WithNemanja Bjelicacurrently starting at power forward, Parker will be competing with fellow former DukiesHarry GilesandMarvin Bagley, as well as recently acquired veteranAnthony Tolliverfor minutes off the bench.
Though both Len and Parker have fallen short thus far from the lofty expectations that preceded their entry into the league, they are both still relatively young at 26 (Alex Len) and 24 (Jabari Parker) respectively.
It isn’t out of the realm of possibility that they may still be able to make good on the promise they both have shown at stages of their careers.
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