Cavs: Dean Wade should be rotational regular from here

The Cleveland Cavaliers have had their share of injuries issues this season, and in particular, regarding their natural 4 men. Kevin Love had barely played before making a quick return post-All-Star break before having to be sidelined again in the second game he appeared in after returning, for one.

And though he is back and has been mostly starting at the 4 post-All-Star once again, as he was doing before, Larry Nance Jr. was previously sidelined for 13 games, and most of February, because of a fractured fourth metacarpal on his left hand.

It’s been a positive to have since had Nance back since, at least. He doesn’t appear to nearly have the same shooting rhythm he had been having from three-point range before being sidelined for an extended period, but he is still contributing in a variety of ways for Cleveland.

On the year, Nance has had 9.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists and had he been active in more games, would be right near the league leader in steals per game as a qualifier with 1.8.

Granted, as an aside, while it wouldn’t seem at all likely that he’d actually end up being moved with what he means to the team, both on and off the floor, Nance has been a player mentioned in trade rumors as well. It still wouldn’t at all appear that he’d end up moved by Thursday’s 3 PM deadline, but for what it’s worth, Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer did report how Nance has been among the names discussed in trade conversations involving Cavs players.

It wouldn’t seem as if Andre Drummond, who could be headed for a buyout, will end up being necessarily dealt, given recent rumors/reports, but JaVale McGee and Cedi Osman seemingly could; you can view more on at aforementioned link and also here.

The price tag for Nance is at least a first-rounder, per Fischer’s report, and again, I wouldn’t anticipate Nance to be moved. That’s when taking into account his passing, offensive growth in recent seasons, his defensive impact and him being a budding leader, on and off the floor.

Anyway, with Love and Nance, as was hit on before, having had their share of injury issues this season, though, it has helped give Dean Wade some more burn. And even with Nance back in the fold lately, Wade has still had his share of meaningful run.

With what he’s shown, Wade should be a rotational regular for the Cavs, too.

Wade wasn’t a rotational regular for Cleveland last season, but with him having been an undrafted two-way contributor, that wasn’t shocking. The likes of Love and Nance were mostly active then, too.

Wade, who only appeared in 12 games with the Cavs in 2019-20, had 1.7 points and 1.6 rebounds in 5.9 minutes per outing in his rookie campaign. But he was a starter for Cleveland’s G League Affiliate, the Canton Charge, and had 14.2 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.4 blocks per contest, and hit 39.9 percent of his three-point attempts.

When Wade did get some occasional meaningful burn with Cleveland last year, he seemed timid, though. This season, however, in which Wade has had a regular roster spot, when opportunities have come, he’s played with much more confidence, particularly as a catch-and-shoot player.

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Wade has played in 35 games thus far this season for the Cavs, with him averaging 12.7 minutes per game. It hasn’t been, say nearly a near-half game minutes-share in totality, but he has been regularly in the mix lately, and he’s again further proven to showcase his stretch big abilities.

At this juncture, Wade’s hit 38.8 percent of his three-point attempts, and in Cleveland’s past 12 games, five of which Wade started, he’s demonstrated he can be a shooting factor for this Wine and Gold club. In that span, he’s had 7.8 points, 4.3 rebounds in 21.0 minutes per outing, and he’s hit 1.7 of his 3.9 three-point attempts per outing, a 42.6 percent clip.

So to me, while I’m not necessarily saying Wade should be starting in the mean time, as I just see him as more of a bench energy-type guy at the moment, if and when Love is more so in the fold again, Wade should still get minutes game-to-game.

And I could see even lineups with Nance in spurts at the 3, Wade at the 4, and even Dylan Windler at the 2, or Collin Sexton, per usual.

Windler, as a side note, I could foresee having a bigger post-deadline role, frankly, and even while he’s had his ups and downs from deep, he’s contributed in other ways. That I could also foresee given Cedi Osman/Taurean Prince trade rumors, and Damyean Dotson and Osman’s shooting struggles to boot.

Anyhow, with what Wade has shown for the Cleveland Cavaliers, and with how he’s played lately, he, by and large, especially with Love’s injury concerns still, I’d think should be a regular rotational player from here. That’s a good thing, though, as Wade continues to gain confidence as a shooter, and defensively, has actually more than held his own I believe, even in some switchout situations here and there.

It’s nice to know that Cleveland could have a promising stretch big in Wade for rotational minutes. And while we’ll have to see as far as the draft, and the injury history/still contract, Cleveland could maybe have a higher chance this upcoming offseason of eventually trading Love.

Love’s been mentioned in trade rumors still anyway, albeit him being moved by the upcoming Thursday afternoon trade deadline wouldn’t seem at all likely.

But regardless, Wade, to drive it home, should still be involved game-to-game from here, anyhow. Cleveland should be able to find ways to get him continually in the fold.