NBA Analyst Says Dean Wade Is Cavaliers’ ‘Best Kept Secret’

NBA analyst Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report believes Dean Wade is the Cleveland Cavaliers‘ “best kept secret.”

Wade appeared in 54 games for the Cavaliers in 2023-24. 

“The answer to the Cavaliers’ question about the ideal fifth piece to slot between the Darius Garland–Donovan Mitchell backcourt and the Evan Mobley–Jarrett Allen frontcourt has been in-house all along,” Swartz wrote. “It’s just that Wade, plus-minus darling and mainstay in the Cavs’ best lineups over the last couple of years, is so rarely on the floor.

“He appeared in 54 games last year and just 44 in 2022-23, never averaging more than 20.5 minutes per contest. If he’d been available more often, maybe we’d be talking about a Cavs team coming off several very deep playoff runs.

“In 2022-23, Wade’s minutes coincided with a plus-7.7 net rating, one that climbed to plus-20.7 with Garland, Mitchell, Mobley and Allen. Last year, the Cavs posted a plus-7.2 net rating with Wade on the floor, but injuries throughout the roster prevented him from ever seeing action with all of Cleveland’s top four stars.

“These are all small samples, but Wade’s basic and advanced metrics tell a similar tale. He’s a career 37.1 percent shooter from deep who’s graded out in the 90th percentile or better in Defensive Estimated Plus/Minus across each of the last three years.”

Wade averaged 5.4 points this past season while shooting 41.4% from the field, 39.1% from beyond the arc and 76.9% from the free-throw line. He’ll make $6.2 million next season. 

The 27-year-old Wade has career averages of 5.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.3 blocks in 224 NBA games with the Cavaliers. He’s an undrafted player out of Kansas State. 

Cleveland lost to the Boston Celtics in the second round of the 2024 playoffs in five games. J.B. Bickerstaff was fired as head coach and replaced by Kenny Atkinson, who signed a five-year deal. 

The Cavaliers haven’t made any moves this offseason in free agency or trades. The only new player on the roster is rookie Jaylon Tyson, the 20th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.