Cavs’ Dean Wade, dubbed ‘The White Blanket,’ receives love for underrated intangibles

CLEVELAND — When it comes to the Cavaliers, you usually hear about the Core Four, and you know their names.

Donovan Mitchell. Darius Garland. Evan Mobley. Jarrett Allen. But Dean Wade? Well, he’s not exactly a household name across the NBA.

But he sure matters a lot in Cleveland — as Wade is among a contingent of so-called supporting players who have made a real difference in this banner of a year.

Others in that group include the likes of Max Strus, Sam Merrill, Isaac Okoro and Javonte Green. As for Wade, the specialty is mostly defense and lots of the intangibles.

“I call him White Blanket,” Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson said, via James Herebert of CBS Sports. “White Blanket, you can’t score on him.”

Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson has another phrase to describe Wade. Atkinson will tell you that Wade “drives winning.” Considering the Cavs entered Thursday’s home game with the Spurs as the top team in the Eastern Conference, Wade counts for a lot. Cleveland, after all, wins a lot.

This from a guy who went undrafted out of Kansas State six years ago. 

“I was not thinking I was going to be a real defensive stopper type of player,” Wade said. “I turned myself into that, but I never thought, especially coming out of college, that would be my role.”

It’s a role that the Cavs are thrilled to have him embrace … and perform admirably.

 “He makes us better,” Atrkinson said. “He makes us more versatile.” 

Wade doesn’t get the love nationally. Sometimes, not even locally. But the Cavs sure appreciate him and really, that’s all that counts.

• You can check out the full Wade story on CBS Sports here.
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