Why Cavs’ Dean Wade likely to draw interest in free agency

It’s hard to know exactly what will become of Cavaliers free agent forward Dean Wade.

For starters, the Cavs would love for Wade to return. By all accounts, Wade would like to be back, too.

But there will be outside interest. Perhaps plenty of it.

ESPN’s Zach Kram listed Wade among six underrated free agents whom teams should target this offseason, citing Wade’s versatility, defense and overall impact beyond the box score.

Nobody is going to sign Wade because of his scoring numbers, of course. He has never averaged more than 6.0 points in a season and is rarely featured offensively.

But that’s not really his game.

At 6-foot-9, Wade has built a reputation as a versatile defender capable of guarding multiple positions. For instance Wade’s most common playoff assignments this past postseason included Cade Cunningham, Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram and Jalen Brunson.

That’s quite a mix.

And despite the differences in size, style and skill set among those players, Kram noted that all four were held to 25 points per 100 possessions or fewer when defended by Wade.

The Cavs frequently shuffled Wade in and out of the starting lineup during the playoffs, largely because his offensive role remains limited. Still, Kram suggested Wade’s ideal fit may be as a key reserve on a contender.

That certainly sounds like Cleveland.

As Kram pointed out, Wade has posted a positive on/off differential in all but one season of his NBA career — further supporting the idea that his impact often extends beyond traditional statistics.

In other words, he may not fill up a box score. But around the league, it appears plenty of people still recognize his value.

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