3 Cavaliers players who tanked their trade value in 2023

Dean Wade tanked his trade value

Prior to this past season, Dean Wade earned a three-year contract extension, a sign of how the organization valued him and wanted to keep him around. He began the season excellently, starting four games and proving his value as the potential answer as the fifth starter. He had a positive plus-minus in nine of his first eleven games and shot the lights out from deep.

Then the injuries began, with the most serious being a shoulder sprain. Add in a minor knee injury and an ankle sprain, and it was difficult for Wade to find his way back to the court. When he did, the lingering effects of the shoulder injury seemed to destroy his shooting form. Seemingly afraid to miss when his shot wasn’t going down, Wade then began passing up open looks, something the fifth-starter on this team can’t do.

Coming into the season Wade looked like a future 3-and-D starter for the Cavaliers or an enticing trade candidate for another team. Now, after getting virtually no chance in the playoffs, he looks like a fringe rotation player.

Can Wade recoup his value? Absolutely. Lineups with Wade on the court still grade out well, and his defense is stout. If he can continue to rehab his shoulder and regain his shooting form, next season Wade could earn back a firm rotation spot and maybe even compete again for the final starting position. That will rebuild his trade value and his value to the Cavaliers.