Answering Philadelphia 76ers needs: Two must acquire players

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Dewayne Dedmon (Photos by Mark Sobhani/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The Philadelphia 76ers have five “centers” on their roster, three of which have played at least twenty percent of their career at the power forward position. The closest true center backup to Joel Embiid physically, is Justin Patton, recent acquisition from the Jimmy Butler trade, but the 7-foot Creighton product just recently resumed basketball activities with the Delaware Blue Coats and has not played in an NBA game since April, 2017.

The Sixers center’s 3.7 offensive rebounds per game rank 23rd in the league, which contributes to the team’s 17th ranked 47.9 points in the paint per game. The Sixers centers are recovering only 40 percent of loose balls defensively, the league’s fourth worst percentage for the center position.

Furthermore, the Sixers’ bench centers place 17th in blocks and 15th in rebounds while averaging an almost league worst 1.5 turnovers. Statistically, the Sixers’ bench centers under perform, but granted, Brett Brown deploys many different types of creative rotations and the Sixers do not have a true backup center.

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Brooklyn Nets’ Ed Davis is posting an impressive 17.4 percent Offensive Rebounding percentage and collecting almost nine rebounds a game. Indiana Pacers center Kyle O’Quinn offers unmatched defensive and rebounding contributions. O’Quinn’s Defensive Box Plus Minus has not fallen below at least 3.5 since 2015 and his defensive rating is just a few points shy of Embiid.

However, presumably neither the Nets nor the Pacers, both currently Eastern Conference playoff teams, are willing to help improve the Sixers bench depth. Having said that, the most logical trade to make, in an effort to obtain an efficient and true backup center, comes courteous of the Atlanta Hawks.

The Hawks, sporting the NBA’s fifth worst record, most certainly will not be at loss if they can not retain Dewayne Dedmon past this season and are most likely seeking youth and expiring contracts to field their rebuild.

Dedmon, the 7-foot and 245 pound 29-year-old, temporarily fulfills the Sixers backup center gap. Averaging 1.5 offensive rebound per game, Dedmon has averaged at least 1.5 or more for three years now, more than Myles Turner and Thon Maker. Dedmon’s nightly 5.8 defensive rebounds is more than Steven Adams‘ and Derrick Favors‘ averages.

Further, Dedmon averages near one block per game over the course of his six-year career and has yet to post a negative Defensive Box Plus Minus. Offensively, Dedmon helps space the floor and sets effective screens. Dedmon’s previous two seasons are a clear indication of much offensive improvement and he is even attempting a little over three 3-point shots per game this season.

Of course, there are offensive limitations associated with Dedmon’s game. He does not play with his back to the basket as well as someone like O’Quinn does, but he is an immediate upgrade off of the bench.

Hawks’ decorated guard Jeremy Lin, a consistent scorer and skilled passer, is garnering much attention as of late. The Sixers are reportedly a team interested in Dedmon’s teammate Lin, but that would not completely benefit Philadelphia. Lin features a fearless offensive attack, but has not entirely caught up with the recently evolved game of basketball.

Lin’s career average 3-point attempts is 2.8 and in nine seasons he has never averaged more than 1.6 successful 3-point shots per game. The oft-injured guard turns the ball over twice a game on average and defensively hurts more than he helps. Thus, the more logical upgrade to fulfill the guard needs is found elsewhere.