NBA veteran big man Dewayne Dedmon has emerged as a candidate to sign with the Golden State Warriors, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Dedmon began last season with the Miami Heat and played 30 games off the bench for the reigning Eastern Conference champions.

He averaged 5.7 points and 3.6 rebounds in 11.7 minutes per contest.

The Heat dealt Dedmon to San Antonio at the trade deadline before the Spurs waived him. The Philadelphia 76ers signed him shortly after, and the 34-year-old center averaged 3.5 points on 59.1% shooting across eight games with Philly.

Outside of Kevon Looney, the Warriors do not boast much size on their roster. Dedmon would become Golden State’s only seven-footer if he joined the 2022 champions, adding some extra height and toughness to a battle-tested squad.

Due to his age, Dedmon does not typically handle a huge workload. However, his per-minute production stood out last season. Per 36 minutes, Dedmon averaged 16.8 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 2.9 offensive rebounds. Dedmon’s ability to crash the boards could seriously help a Warriors team that was mediocre on the offensive glass.

On Stadium’s Inside the Association, Charania also linked the Warriors to free-agent big men Dwight Howard, Tony Bradley, and Derrick Favors.

“I’m told Dwight Howard will meet with Warriors team officials here soon, and those meetings will include decision-makers, coaches, and players,” Charania reported. “This is gonna be an opportunity for him to prove to the Warriors [in meetings] his mindset and his readiness for a return to the NBA for what would be his 19th NBA season. He has proven he can sacrifice and be a part of a veteran-laden team. He did so during the Lakers’ championship run in 2020 in the bubble.”

While Howard’s pursuit of an NBA comeback will interest many teams, Dedmon likely presents a safer option for the Warriors. His invaluable experience and consistent professionalism could make him a top candidate to join Golden State next season.