7 best undrafted talents to play for Cleveland Cavaliers

Best undrafted Cavs player No. 5: Dean Wade

One year before adding Lamar Stevens on a two-way contract, they picked up another undrafted forward who has stuck with the team ever since. Dean Wade entered the 2019 NBA Draft after starring at Kansas State, and after going undrafted signed a two-way contract with the Cavaliers.

Wade played just 12 games as a rookie, not doing anything remarkable, but his work ethic and versatility earned him a full contract the following summer. From there, he began to demonstrate that his 3-and-D ability fit into any lineup and earned a more regular spot in the rotation.

The changing needs of the roster have not resulted in a consistent starting spot with the Cavaliers, nor does he always have a guaranteed spot in J.B. Bickerstaff’s rotation, who plays the “hot hand” approach with his bench players. What is consistent is that when Dean Wade is on the court, the Cavs tend to win his minutes.

Four seasons into his career, Wade is a 36.1 percent 3-point shooter and an excellent defender. He has enough lateral agility to stick with faster wings, but he is also great at scaling down to battle with bigs. He signed a new extension with the Cavs before his fourth season and should be around for a long time.