It’s not as if Dean Wade is likely ever going to be an every-night type of contributor for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Wade, who was a two-way player after having gone undrafted in 2019, was signed to a multi-year deal in the 2020 offseason, of which was set to be non-guaranteed from there, though.
But Wade did receive some legitimate rotational playing time last season, which initially occurred because of injuries then to Kevin Love and Larry Nance Jr.; either way, Wade did show some things as a 3-and-D-type player in his minutes. He had 6.0 points and 3.4 rebounds in 19.2 minutes per contest last season in 63 appearances, and held his own defensively, particularly involving his ability to contain driving and pull-up threats.
Now, coming into the 2021-22 season, and even at this juncture, it’s uncertain as to how regularly Wade will play. That’s with now Evan Mobley, Lauri Markkanen, to some degree, and Kevin Love in the fold, to go with Jarrett Allen and Mobley in relation to the 4/5.
Granted, Wade could still get some playing time off the bench for spurts as a jumbo 3, as he did last season, and has a bit this season. Overall, though, Wade’s minutes will vary with others involved, factoring in conventional wings and even for potential jumbo 3 minutes, of which Markkanen has essentially been playing often.
That said, based off of last season and with his sound defense/catch-and-shoot abilities, he’s generally a capable rotational option to play in two or three-big lineups.
Cavs: Wade is typically a solid rotational option.
We’ve seen in there at times in the past few games for spurts, when he had six points and six rebounds in 19 minutes in Cleveland’s L at the Phoenix Suns, and he did a commendable job defensively. That was while at least providing some added spacing and rebounding, and in that one, he was a plus-six.
Wade had two points and rebounds in 14 minutes at the Charlotte Hornets on Monday in a W, but was a minus-eight; generally, though, he’s a steady contributor in his minutes and can help floor spacing/defensive rebounding.
The gyst here to me with Wade is that, even with it being evident that he’s not likely to going to in there every game, with his defense and being able to sit and slide, combined with the spacing/cutting element, he’s usually a nice rotational option. That’s at the 3 and 4 for a few spurts and/or stretches in games.
When it comes to the 3 rotation, of course Isaac Okoro, at the 2 and 3, feasibly, will likely get his share of PT when he’s back (hamstring), but although I’ve advocated for Lamar Stevens minutes with Okoro out, he hasn’t helped himself of late.
From there even with him starting off well here, it’s still difficult to rely on Cedi Osman, and even with them getting some time together for spurts, injuries always seem to be a factor with Dylan Windler, unfortunately. I do hope he can stay mostly healthy, at any rate.
But generally speaking, Wade is a player that hit threes at a respectable clip, at 36.6 percent last season, and at times for stretches in games to give a different element, he can help the Cavs as a 3-and-D presence.
And along with the catch-and-shoot game/at times movement shooting, he’s a good cutter and runs the floor really well for a 4, and can be a viable target in transition both as an interior player or a trailer, similarly to Markkanen. I’d think we’ll see Markkanen play more with Wade in some spurts in games from here, too.
In addition, with Kevin Love reportedly entering COVID-19 health and safety protocols, and being set to miss “several games,” per Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium on Monday, that should result in more Wade PT to come.
So, again, it’s not necessarily certain as to what the outlook is game-to-game for Wade, with others involved, however, he’s typically a solid rotational option to have for 12-15 or so minutes.
He’s an intelligent player that can mesh with a variety of Cavs, and while it did appear he could become expendable prior to the season, with him being non-guaranteed and not because of his play, he is valuable depth.