NBA Free Agency 2017: One signing every team should make

Portland Trail Blazers: Dewayne Dedmon

The Portland Trail Blazers enter 2017 NBA free agency in a tough spot. With frivolous spending last offseason and then the salary cap dropping back down, the Trail Blazers are up against it when it comes to the moves they can financially swing, barring any trades to shed cap, of course. At the same time, though, they’re a team that has big holes that they need to fill.

Therefore, looking at a cost-effective player like center Dewayne Dedmon would be a strong course of action for Portland. Dedmon has bounced around the league in his four years as a pro, seeing far and away his biggest workload this past season with the San Antonio Spurs. Playing in 76 games and starting in 37, Dedmon logged 17.5 minutes per game and was highly effective in that role for San Antonio, particularly as a defender.

Dedmon registered a Defensive Box Plus-Minus of 3.2 last season, averaging 2.3 blocks and 1.4 steals per 100 possessions for the Spurs. He was a great rim protector and a solid team defender as well on the interior. While he was an efficient offensive player, his opportunities on that end were more limited. There’s potential in what the 27-year old can offer on that end of the floor.

As a whole, though, Dedmon would come to Portland as a relatively cheap, high-upside option to insert in a frontcourt that needs those types of players. While the Blazers have hopes for Zach Collins, who they traded up to the 10th pick to select in the recent draft, he could stand to take some time to develop. Bringing in Dedmon would assist with that in a big way.