Orlando Magic Player Evaluations: Dewayne Dedmon
2016 Outlook
What happens with Dewayne Dedmon’s role is going to be hugely influenced by where the Magic decide to go in the 2015 Draft, as well as whether Aaron Gordon becomes a priority development-wise, and how he grows and develops. The new coach will also play a large role.
Gordon has a lot more invested in him as a lottery pick, but if Dedmon continues to work hard he is not exactly short of talents and athleticism either.
Dedmon is the more limited of the two, but of the players on the roster at season’s end, Dedmon and Gordon appear to be the two that will man the 4-spot next year. He is going to have to work extensively on his shooting, but the sample size was decidedly small this year from Dedmon. He shot just 162 field goals and 64 free throws.
That is not an entirely insignificant sample size, but 67.3 percent of his shots came from three feet and in. He shot 67.9 percent on those attempts, but hit just 27.2 percent from 3 to 10 feet, a range that encompassed 34.1 percent of his field goal attempts.
Dedmon does not have to be relegated to be a guy who just finishes at the basket, but at this point he really is — teams dare him to make a move away from the basket, and he usually proceeds to try to get closer to the rim before putting it up.
That is a sign of a lack of confidence, mostly, and something that will be overcome with more minutes.
Dedmon knows he can finish at the rim, but other teams do too, so they do not hesitate to foul him. He shot just 53.1 percent from the line, but again, that could improve with more attempts, comfort and work.
It is concise to say, but Dedmon is still very much a work in progress.
The fact he works as hard as any player in the league should bode well for all of the improvements coming in due time. He is just 25 years old and by the time he hits his prime he could be strong in several areas he is just not even good at right now.
He could be like Ben Wallace, with more offense, we hope.
Next: Final Grade