Orlando Magic Player Evaluations: Dewayne Dedmon

Dewayne Dedmon came into the season as the Orlando Magic’s primary backup big man. He lost that role early, but opportunity struck for Dedmon late.

Dewayne Dedmon is a unique player for the Orlando Magic.

He is the only player on the team that is an adequate rim protector. In theory Dedmon’s defensive activity would make him a favorite of coach Scott Skiles.

After all, defense is his thing. The only thing he does really well.

But that was not the case. Instead of using Dedmon as a defensive weapon when teams assailed the Magic in the pick and rolls, Skiles glued Dedmon to the bench because he was not able to score or perhaps play defense exactly how Skiles or his system demanded.

The Magic’s misuse of Dedmon is just another point to mark against Skiles in his first season with the Magic. For whatever reason, Dedmon stayed glued to the bench for most of the season.

Toward the end of the season, thanks to an injury suffered by Nikola Vucevic, Dedmon re-entered the rotation and proved he not only belongs in the NBA, but belonged in the rotation this year all along.

That play made Dedmon valuable and opened the door back up to his future both with the Magic and in the NBA. Figuring out how to use and grow the still-raw  center prospect will be the next phase of Dedmon’s career, whether that happens in Orlando or elsewhere.

Next: The Good and the Bad