NBA Free Agency 2019: 5 offseason targets for the Philadelphia 76ers

DENVER, COLORADO - APRIL 23: Rudy Gay #22 of the San Antonio Spurs puts up a shot over Torrey Craig #3 of the Denver Nuggets in the third quarter during Game Five of the first round of the 2019 NBA Western Conference Playoffs at the Pepsi Center on April 23, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

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ATLANTA, GEORGIA – FEBRUARY 07: Dewayne Dedmon #14 of the Atlanta Hawks reacts after hitting a three-point basket against the Toronto Raptors at State Farm Arena on February 07, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

1. Dewayne Dedmon, C

You’d be hard-pressed to find a team that hasn’t already penciled Dewayne Dedmon in as its backup center for 2019-20.

The 29-year-old is the archetype of the modern-day big: a shot-blocker on defense and a floor-stretcher on offense. Dedmon averaged 10.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 25.1 minutes per game with the Atlanta Hawks this past season, and he also canned 83 triples on the year at a 38.2 percent clip.

In early June, Shams Charania of The Athletic reported the Hawks had “interest” in re-signing Dedmon “to a balloon one-year deal … or a shorter-term contract like the two-year, $14 million deal he signed in 2017.” While the Sixers couldn’t compete with a balloon deal, they may be willing to throw a multiyear offer at him using most or all of their mid-level exception.

Backup center proved to be the Sixers’ Achilles’ heel in the playoffs, as they frequently fell apart the second Joel Embiid stepped off the floor. They outscored opponents by 20.7 points per 100 possessions in Embiid’s 334 playoffs minutes, but opponents outscored them by 19.7 points per 100 possessions the 242 minutes without Embiid.

Even if the Sixers bring back Boban Marjanovic as their third-string center, they’ll need a viable backup plan for when Embiid rests. Dedmon should be their dream target if he’s willing to settle for the non-taxpayer mid-level exception.

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