Miami Heat planning to add veteran NBA 7-footer Dewayne Dedmon
The Miami Heat’s search for an additional big man has led them to veteran NBA center Dewayne Dedmon, an NBA source confirmed Tuesday to the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
The Heat faced a Thursday deadline to add a 14th player to their roster, after falling to 13 players under standard contract at the March 25 NBA trading deadline.
The signing is contingent on NBA pandemic protocols, and Dedmon passing a physical.
The Heat have been undermanned in the power rotation since dealing Meyers Leonard, Kelly Olynyk, Chris Silva and Moe Harkless in the deadline machinations that added Victor Oladipo, Trevor Ariza and Nemanja Bjelica.
In Dedmon, the Heat get a player who participated in their 2013 summer league and has a total of seven seasons of NBA experience with the Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers, Orlando Magic, San Antonio Spurs, Atlanta Hawks and Sacramento Kings.
Dedmon last played in the NBA when he appeared in a combined 44 games last season with the Kings and Hawks.
The USC product has been out of the league since being dealt in November by the Hawks to the Detroit Pistons for Tony Snell and then waived.
Dedmon, 31, has averaged 6.4 points and 6.0 rebounds over his career, last season averaging 5.8 points and 5.7 rebounds.
The Heat’s move came after the market of available big men was thinned in recent days by the Los Angeles Clippers’ addition of DeMarcus Cousins, the Sacramento Kings’ addition of Damian Jones, the Portland Trail Blazers’ two-way deal for TJ Leaf and the New York Knicks’ signing of Norvel Pelle and John Henson.
Among other recent NBA big men out of the league who stood as signing options were Ian Mahinmi, Kyle O’Quinn and Skal Labissiere.
Currently, Bam Adebayo is the only player listed as a center on the Heat roster, and he is listed as a combination forward/center.
Proper precaution
Having given Goran Dragic (back) and Andre Iguodala games off in recent days, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said it is not a matter of load management with his 30-somethings.
“We definitely will not use that term,” he said, “and not for right or wrong, for better or worse. But we’ll make these decisions on day-to-day, case-by-case basis. "
The Heat feature six players 30 or older: Ariza (35), Bjelica (32), Jimmy Butler (31), Dragic (34), Udonis Haslem (40) and Iguodala (37). That number will grow to seven once Dedmon is signed.
“What we’re really going to try to balance,” Spoelstra said, “is the big picture and how guys are feeling and making sure that guys aren’t playing at a deficit that could be harmful.”
Adebayo ranked ninth
Adebayo was ranked ninth by ESPN in its list of the NBA’s top-25 players under 25, with the rankings based on future potential.
Adebayo, 23, was listed below, in order, Luka Doncic, Zion Williamson, LaMelo Ball, Donovan Mitchell, Jayson Tatum, De’Aaron Fox, Ben Simmons and Devin Booker.
Among those Adebayo was ranked ahead of were Jaylen Brown (12th), Ja Morant (15th), Trae Young (16th), Anthony Edwards (19th) and West Palm Beach prep product John Collins (22).
