FanPost

How Much Will Dewayne Dedmon Make This Off-Season? Take the Poll!

Dewayne Dedmon, at 27 years old, standing 7’0" and weighing 245 pounds, has come a long way from not playing organized basketball until he turned 18. However, it hadn’t been a smooth ride for him until he came to San Antonio. He went from junior college to the University of Southern California where, on his Junior and final year of college, his team finished with a losing record and he was even suspended from tournament play.

Dedmon then declared for the NBA draft but went undrafted. He bounced around the league and was dropped by a lowly 76er squad and Golden State (Wikipedia). He did get a small contract with the Orlando Magic but was allowed to leave by the team to get more accomplished defensive big men in Bismack Biyombo and Serge Ibaka.

The Spurs saw something in him though and signed him to a small 2-year contract worth about $3 million per year with a player option for the second year. This season has seen Dedmon help the team beyond expectations using his 7-foot frame and athletic ability to be a defensive and rebounding force yet a more than viable offensive threat. Now, there is no doubt in anyone’s mind that he will choose to be an unrestricted free agent next year for a chance at a more lucrative deal. But how high could that contract go?

This past off-season saw a number of big men get generous offers even with limited track records.

Boban Marjanovic - The gigantic and talented 7’3", 271 pound former Spur one-year wonder went from a third string back up to third-string back-up but as insurance for the expected loss of back-up center Aron Baynes next season. He got a big raise from $1.2 million last season to a 3-year contract with the Detroit Pistons that averages $7 million per year. (Wiki/Hoopshype)

Meyers Leonard – At 7’1’ and 245 pounds, and only 23 years old, the athletic center isn’t the rebounding or shot blocking per-minute athletes as the others on the list. His defensive prowess is average at best at the moment. But he did get comfortable with taking 3s shooting 42% last season and 38% so far this season; He can also be very good at free throws. He re-signed with the Portland Trailblazers for a 4-year contract this off-season that averages $10 million per year from a $3 million contract last season. (Hoopshype/Spotrac)

Timofey Mozgov – At 7’1" and 275 pounds, the 29 years old had a trying year last season and it was anticipated that his days in Cleveland had come to an end. The year before he had some incredible games in the NBA finals for the Cavaliers where he used his huge frame to score when the Golden State Warriors went small and at that time seemed very promising. The Lakers thought so and as an unrestricted free agent he went from less than $8 million in his final year with the Cavs to a long-term contract averaging $16 million a year with the Los Angeles Lakers. (Hoopshype/Spotrac)

Bizmack Biyombo –At 24 years of age, standing 6’9" and 229 lbs., he is a quick defensive specialist good in big or small-ball lineups. Given up by the Charlotte Hornets, he made most of his only season with the Toronto Raptors and used his player option to go from $3 million last year to an incredible $17 million per-year for the next 4 years with the Orlando Magic. (Hoopshype)

Hassan Whiteside – The Heat’s franchise player standing 7’0" and weighing 265 pounds, was a former second round pick by the Sacramento Kings who ended up playing in the D-League and then left for China after he found no takers among NBA teams. He latched on to the Heat two seasons ago and put up franchise and All-Star numbers in rebounds and blocks. Only 24, he went from under a million dollars last season to a staggering $98.4 million contract that averages almost $25 million a year!

The range that talented big-men can vary greatly but teams are more than willing to fork out huge sums for players only a few years past their contract signings when they were viewed as journeymen at best. This upcoming season it will be Dedmon’s turn to be wooed by teams. How much will that be is now yours to guess. Take the Poll!

PS Thanks to all the 191 Pounders who took the "How much will Patty Mills Make Next Season?" poll. Final results: 30% said he’ll make less than $10 million, 60% said he will make $10 million or more but less than $15 million, 9% said he will make $15 million or more but less than $20 million and 1% said he’ll be getting paid in the Kawhi/Lamarcus range!

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